Dengue tetravalent vaccine containing a common 30 nucleotide deletion in the 3&#39;-utr of dengue types 1,2,3, and 4, or antigenic chimeric dengue viruses 1,2,3, and 4

ABSTRACT

The invention relates to a dengue virus tetravalent vaccine containing a common 30 nucleotide deletion (Δ30) in the 3′-untranslated region of the genome of dengue virus serotypes 1, 2, 3, and 4, or antigenic chimeric dengue viruses of serotypes 1, 2, 3, and 4.

CROSS-REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATIONS

This application is a divisional of U.S. application Ser. No. 15/710,672, filed Sep. 20, 2017, which is a continuation of U.S. application Ser. No. 13/305,639, filed Nov. 28, 2011, which is a continuation of U.S. application Ser. No. 12/398,043, filed Mar. 4, 2009, now U.S. Pat. No. 8,075,903, which is a continuation of U.S. application Ser. No. 10/970,640, filed Oct. 21, 2004, now U.S. Pat. No. 7,517,531, which is a continuation and claims the benefit of priority of International Application No. PCT/US03/13279 filed Apr. 25, 2003, designating the United States of America and published in English on Nov. 13, 2003, as WO 03/092592, which claims the benefit of priority of U.S. Provisional Application No. 60/377,860, filed May 3, 2002, and U.S. Provisional Application No. 60/436,500, filed Dec. 23, 2002, the disclosure of each of which is incorporated herein by reference in its entirety for all purposes.

FIELD OF THE INVENTION

The invention relates to a dengue virus tetravalent vaccine containing a common 30 nucleotide deletion (Δ30) in the 3′-untranslated region of the genome of dengue virus serotypes 1, 2, 3, and 4, or antigenic chimeric dengue viruses of serotypes 1, 2, 3, and 4.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

Dengue virus is a positive-sense RNA virus belonging to the Flavivirus genus of the family Flaviviridae. Dengue virus is widely distributed throughout the tropical and semitropical regions of the world and is transmitted to humans by mosquito vectors. Dengue virus is a leading cause of hospitalization and death in children in at least eight tropical Asian countries (WHO 1997 Dengue Haemorrhagic Fever: Diagnosis, Treatment, Prevention, and Control 2nd Edition, Geneva). There are four serotypes of dengue virus (DEN1, DEN2, DEN3, and DEN4) that annually cause an estimated 50-100 million cases of dengue fever and 500,000 cases of the more severe form of dengue virus infection known as dengue hemorrhagic fever/dengue shock syndrome (DHF/DSS) (Gubler, D. J. and Meltzer, M. 1999 Adv Virus Res 53:35-70). This latter disease is seen predominantly in children and adults experiencing a second dengue virus infection with a serotype different than that of their first dengue virus infection and in primary infection of infants who still have circulating dengue-specific maternal antibody (Burke, D. S. et al. 1988 Am J Trop Med Hyg 38:172-180; Halstead, S. B. et al. 1969 Am J Trop Med Hyg 18:997-1021; Thein, S. et al. 1997 Am J Trop Med Hyg 56:566-575). A dengue vaccine is needed to lessen disease burden caused by dengue virus, but none is licensed. Because of the association of more severe disease with secondary dengue virus infection, a successful vaccine must simultaneously induce immunity to all four serotypes. Immunity is primarily mediated by neutralizing antibody directed against the envelope (E) glycoprotein, a virion structural protein. Infection with one serotype induces long-lived homotypic immunity and a short-lived heterotypic immunity (Sabin, A. 1955 Am J Trop Med Hyg 4:198-207). Therefore, the goal of immunization is to induce a long-lived neutralizing antibody response against DEN1, DEN2, DEN3, and DEN4, which can best be achieved economically using live attenuated virus vaccines. This is a reasonable goal since a live attenuated vaccine has already been developed for the related yellow fever virus, another mosquito-borne flavivirus present in tropical and semitropical regions of the world (Monath, T. P. and Heinz, F. X. 1996 in: Fields Virology, Fields, D. M et al. eds. Philadelphia: Lippincott-Raven Publishers, pp. 961-1034).

Several live attenuated dengue vaccine candidates have been developed and evaluated in humans and non-human primates. The first live attenuated dengue vaccine candidates were host range mutants developed by serial passage of wild-type dengue viruses in the brains of mice and selection of mutants attenuated for humans (Kimura, R. and Hotta, S. 1944 Jpn J Bacterial 1:96-99; Sabin, A. B. and Schlesinger, R. W. 1945 Science 101:640; Wisserman, C. L. et al. 1963 Am J Trop Med Hyg 12:620-623). Although these candidate vaccine viruses were immunogenic in humans, their poor growth in cell culture discouraged further development. Additional live attenuated DEN1, DEN2, DEN3, and DEN4 vaccine candidates have been developed by serial passage in non-human tissue culture (Angsubhakorn, S. et al. 1994 Southeast Asian J Trop Med Public Health 25:554-559; Bancroft, W. H. et al. 1981 Infect Immun 31:698-703; Bhamarapravati, N, et al. 1987 Bull World Health Organ 65:189-195; Eckels, K. H. et al. 1984 Am J Trop Med Hyg 33:684-698; Hoke, C. H. Jr. et al. 1990 Am J Trop Med Hyg 43:219-226; Kanesa-Thasan, N. et al. 2001 Vaccine 19:3179-3188) or by chemical mutagenesis (McKee, K. T. et al. 1987 Am J Trop Med Hyg 36:435-442). It has proven very difficult to achieve a satisfactory balance between attenuation and immunogenicity for each of the four serotypes of dengue virus using these approaches and to formulate a tetravalent vaccine that is safe and satisfactorily immunogenic against each of the four dengue viruses (Kanesa-Thasan, N. et al. 2001 Vaccine 19:3179-3188; Bhamarapravati, N. and Sutee, Y. 2000 Vaccine 18:44-47).

Two major advances using recombinant DNA technology have recently made it possible to develop additional promising live attenuated dengue virus vaccine candidates. First, methods have been developed to recover infectious dengue virus from cells transfected with RNA transcripts derived from a full-length cDNA clone of the dengue virus genome, thus making it possible to derive infectious viruses bearing attenuating mutations that have been introduced into the cDNA clone by site-directed mutagenesis (Lai, C. J. et al. 1991 PNAS USA 88:5139-5143). Second, it is possible to produce antigenic chimeric viruses in which the structural protein coding region of the full-length cDNA clone of dengue virus is replaced by that of a different dengue virus serotype or from a more divergent flavivirus (Bray, M. and Lai, C. J. 1991 PNAS USA 88:10342-10346; Chen, W. et al. 1995 J Virol 69:5186-5190; Huang, C. Y. et al. 2000 J Virol 74:3020-3028; Pletnev, A. G. and Men, R. 1998 PNAS USA 95:1746-1751). These techniques have been used to construct intertypic chimeric dengue viruses that have been shown to be effective in protecting monkeys against homologous dengue virus challenge (Bray, M. et al. 1996 J Virol 70:4162-4166). A similar strategy is also being used to develop attenuated antigenic chimeric dengue virus vaccines based on the attenuation of the yellow fever vaccine virus or the attenuation of the cell-culture passaged dengue viruses (Monath, T. P. et al. 1999 Vaccine 17:1869-1882; Huang, C. Y. et al. 2000 J. Virol 74:3020-3028).

Another study examined the level of attenuation for humans of a DEN4 mutant bearing a 30-nucleotide deletion (Δ30) introduced into its 3′-untranslated region by site-directed mutagenesis and that was found previously to be attenuated for rhesus monkeys (Men, R. et al. 1996 J Virol 70:3930-3937). Additional studies were carried out to examine whether this Δ30 mutation present in the DEN4 vaccine candidate was the major determinant of its attenuation for monkeys. It was found that the Δ30 mutation was indeed the major determinant of attenuation for monkeys, and that it specified a satisfactory balance between attenuation and immunogenicity for humans (Durbin, A. P. et al. 2001 Am J Trap Med Hyg 65:405-13),

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

The previously identified Δ30 attenuating mutation, created in dengue virus type 4 (DEN4) by the removal of 30 nucleotides from the 3′-UTR, is also capable of attenuating a wild-type strain of dengue virus type 1 (DEN1). Removal of 30 nucleotides from the DENT 3′-UTR in a highly conserved region homologous to the DEN4 region encompassing the Δ30 mutation yielded a recombinant virus attenuated in rhesus monkeys to a level similar to recombinant virus DEN4Δ30. This establishes the transportability of the Δ30 mutation and its attenuation phenotype to a dengue virus type other than DEN4. The effective transferability of the Δ30 mutation, described by this work, establishes the usefulness of the Δ30 mutation to attenuate and improve the safety of commercializable dengue virus vaccines of any serotype. We envision a tetravalent dengue virus vaccine containing dengue virus types 1, 2, 3, and 4 each attenuated by the Δ30 mutation. We also envision a tetravalent dengue virus vaccine containing recombinant antigenic chimeric viruses in which the structural genes of dengue virus types 1, 2, and 3 replace those of DEN4Δ30; 1, 2, and 4 replace those of DEN3Δ30; 1, 3, and 4 replace those of DEN2Δ30; and 2, 3, and 4 replace those of DEN1Δ30. In some instances, such chimeric dengue viruses are attenuated not only by the Δ30 mutation, but also by their chimeric nature. The presence of the Δ30 attenuating mutation in each virus component precludes the reversion to a wild-type virus by intertypic recombination. In addition, because of the inherent genetic stability of deletion mutations, the Δ30 mutation represents an excellent alternative for use as a common mutation shared among each component of a tetravalent vaccine.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

FIG. 1. The live attenuated tetravalent dengue virus vaccine contains dengue viruses representing each of the 4 serotypes, with each serotype containing its full set of unaltered wild-type structural and non-structural proteins and a shared Δ30 attenuating mutation. The relative location of the Δ30 mutation in the 3′ untranslated region (UTR) of each component is indicated by an arrow.

FIGS. 2A-2C. The Δ30 mutation removes 30 contiguous nucleotides (shaded) from the 3′ UTR of DEN4. Nucleotides are numbered from the 3′ terminus. Nucleotide sequence alignment of the TL2 region of DEN1, DEN2, DEN3, and DEN4 and their Δ30 derivatives. Also shown is the corresponding region for each of the four DEN serotypes. Upper case letters indicate sequence homology among all 4 serotypes, underlining indicates nucleotide pairing to form the stem structure. Predicted secondary structure of the TL2 region of each DEN serotype. Nucleotides that are removed by the Δ30 mutation are boxed (DEN1—between nts 10562—10591, DEN2 Tonga/74—between nts 10541—10570, DEN3 Sleman/78—between nts 10535—10565, and DEN4—between nts 10478—10507).

FIG. 3. Viremia levels in rhesus monkeys inoculated with rDEN4 vaccine candidates bearing 5-FU derived mutations. Groups of four or two (rDEN4 and rDEN4Δ30) monkeys were inoculated with 5.0 log₁₀ PFU virus subcutaneously. Serum was collected daily and virus titers were determined by plaque assay in Vero cells. The limit of virus detection was 0.7 log₁₀ PFU/ml. Mean virus titers are indicated for each group.

FIG. 4. Viremia levels in rhesus monkeys inoculated with rDEN4 vaccine candidates bearing pairs of charge-to-alanine mutations in NS5. Groups of four or two (rDEN4 and rDEN4Δ30) monkeys were inoculated with 5.0 log₁₀ PFU virus subcutaneously. Serum was collected daily and virus titers were determined by plaque assay in Vero cells. The limit of virus detection was 1.0 log₁₀ PFU/ml. Mean virus titers are indicated for each group. Viremia was not detected in any monkey after day 4.

FIG. 5. The Δ30 mutation attenuates both DEN1 and DEN4 for rhesus monkeys. Groups of 4 monkeys were immunized subcutaneously with 5.0 log₁₀ PFU of the indicated virus. Serum was collected each day following immunization and virus titers were determined and are shown as mean log₁₀ PFU/ml.

FIGS. 6A and 6B. Diagram of the p2 (Tonga/74) full-length cDNA plasmid. Regions subcloned are indicated above the plasmid. Numbering begins at the 5′ end of the viral sequence. The Δ30 mutation removes the indicated 30 nucleotides from the 3′ UTR sequence to create p2Δ30.

FIG. 7. Viremia levels in rhesus monkeys inoculated with DEN2 (Tonga/74), rDEN2, and rDEN2Δ30 vaccine candidate. Groups of four monkeys were inoculated with 5.0 log₁₀ PFU virus subcutaneously. Serum was collected daily and virus titers were determined by plaque assay in Vero cells. The limit of virus detection was 0.7 log₁₀ PFU/ml. Mean virus titers are indicated for each group. Viremia was not detected in any monkey after day 8.

FIGS. 8A and 8B. Diagram of the p3 (Sleman/78) full-length cDNA plasmid. Regions subcloned are indicated above the plasmid. Numbering begins at the 5′ end of the viral sequence. The sequence and insertion location of the SpeI linker is shown. The Δ30 mutation removes the indicated 31 nucleotides from the 3′ UTR sequence to create p3Δ30.

FIGS. 9A and 9B. Recombinant chimeric dengue viruses were constructed by introducing either the CME or the ME regions of DEN2 (Tonga/74) into the DEN4 genetic background. The relative location of the Δ30 mutation in the 3′ UTR is indicated by an arrow and intertypic junctions 1, 2, and 3 are indicated. Nucleotide and amino acid sequence of the intertypic junction regions. Restriction enzyme recognition sites used in assembly of each chimeric cDNA are indicated,

FIG. 10. Growth kinetics in Vero cells of chimeric rDEN2/4Δ30 viruses encoding single or combined Vero cell adaptation mutations. Vero cells were infected with the indicated viruses at an MOI of 0.01. At the indicated time points post-infection, 1 ml samples of tissue culture medium were removed, clarified by centrifugation, and frozen at 80° C. The level of virus replication was assayed by plaque titration in C6/36 cells. Lower limit of detection was 0.7 log₁₀ PFU/ml. Replication levels on day 4 post-infection are indicated by the dashed line.

FIGS. 11A and 11B. Recombinant chimeric dengue viruses were constructed by introducing either the CME or the ME regions of DEN3 (Sleman/78) into the DEN4 genetic background. The relative location of the Δ30 mutation in the 3′ UTR is indicated by an arrow and intertypic junctions 1, 2, and 3 are indicated. Restriction enzyme recognition sites used in assembly of each chimeric cDNA are indicated. Nucleotide and amino acid sequence of the intertypic junction regions. Restriction enzyme recognition sites used in assembly of each chimeric cDNA are indicated.

FIGS. 12A and 12B. Recombinant chimeric dengue viruses were constructed by introducing either the CME or the ME regions of DEN1 (Puerto Rico/94) into the DEN4 genetic background. The relative location of the Δ30 mutation in the 3′ UTR is indicated by an arrow and intertypic junctions 1, 2, and 3 are indicated. Restriction enzyme recognition sites used in assembly of each chimeric cDNA are indicated. Nucleotide and amino acid sequence of the intertypic junction regions. Restriction enzyme recognition sites used in assembly of each chimeric cDNA are indicated.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE SEQUENCES

Serotype GenBank Accession No. or description DEN1 U88535 DEN2 Tonga/74 DEN3 Sleman/78 DEN4 AF326825

Brief Description of the SEQ ID NOs

FIG., Table, or Identification Appendix SEQ ID NO. TL2 region of DEN1 FIG. 2C 1 TL2 region of DEN2 FIG. 2C 2 TL2 region of DEN3 FIG. 2C 3 TL2 region of DEN 4 FIG. 2C 4 TL2 region of DEN1Δ30 FIG. 2B 5 TL2 region of DEN2Δ30 FIG. 2B 6 TL2 region of DEN3Δ30 FIG. 2B 7 TL2 region of DEN4Δ30 FIG. 2B 8 TL2 region of p2 FIG. 6B 9 TL2 region of p2Δ30 FIG. 6B 10 TL2 region of p3 FIG. 8B 11 TL2 region of p3Δ30 FIG. 8B 12 Spe1 linker in p3 FIG. 8A 13 rDEN2/4 junction 1 FIG. 9B 14-nt, 15-aa rDEN2/4 junction 2 FIG. 9B 16-nt, 17-aa rDEN2/4 junction 3 FIG. 9B 18-nt, 19-aa rDEN3/4 junction 1 FIG. 11B 20-nt, 21-aa rDEN3/4 junction 2 FIG. 11B 22-nt, 23-aa rDEN3/4 junction 3 FIG. 11B 24-nt, 25-aa rDEN1/4 junction 1 FIG. 12B 26-nt, 27-aa rDEN1/4 junction 2 FIG. 12B 28-nt, 29-aa rDEN1/4 junction 3 FIG. 12B 30-nt, 31-aa D4 selected NS4B region Table 15 32-nt, 33-aa D1 selected NS4B region Table 15 34-nt, 35-aa D2 selected NS4B region Table 15 36-nt, 37-aa D3 selected NS4B region Table 15 38-nt, 39-aa CCACGGGCGCCGT Table 26 40 AAGGCCTGGA Table 26 41 TATCCCCGGGAC Table 26 42 AGAGCTCTCTC Table 26 43 GAATCTCCACCCGGA Table 26 44 CTGTCGAATC Table 26 45 DEN2 (Tonga/74) cDNA plasmid p2 Appendix 1 46-nt, 47-aa DEN3 (Sleman/78) cDNA plasmid p3 Appendix 2 48-nt, 49-aa DEN1 (Puerto Rico/94) CME chimeric Appendix 3 50-nt, 51-aa region DEN1 (Puerto Rico/94) ME chimeric Appendix 4 52-nt, 53-aa region

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENT Introduction

A molecular approach is herewith used to develop a genetically stable live attenuated tetravalent dengue virus vaccine. Each component of the tetravalent vaccine, namely, DEN1, DEN2, DEN3, and DEN4, must be attenuated, genetically stable, and immunogenic. A tetravalent vaccine is needed to ensure simultaneous protection against each of the four dengue viruses, thereby precluding the possibility of developing the more serious illnesses dengue hemorrhagic fever/dengue shock syndrome (DHF/DSS), which occur in humans during secondary infection with a heterotypic wild-type dengue virus. Since dengue viruses can undergo genetic recombination in nature (Worobey, M. et al. 1999 PNAS USA 96:7352-7), the tetravalent vaccine should be genetically incapable of undergoing a recombination event between its four virus components that could lead to the generation of viruses lacking attenuating mutations. Previous approaches to develop a tetravalent dengue virus vaccine have been based on independently deriving each of the four virus components through separate mutagenic procedures, such as passage in tissue culture cells derived from a heterologous host. This strategy has yielded attenuated vaccine candidates (Bhamarapravati, N. and Sutee, Y, 2000 Vaccine 18:44-7). However, it is possible that gene exchanges among the four components of these independently derived tetravalent vaccines could occur in vaccinees, possibly creating a virulent recombinant virus. Virulent polioviruses derived from recombination have been generated in vaccinees following administration of a trivalent poliovirus vaccine (Guillot, S. et al. 2000 J Virol 74:8434-43).

The present invention describes: (1) improvements to the previously described rDEN4Δ30 vaccine candidate, 2) attenuated rDEN1Δ30, rDEN2Δ30, and rDEN3Δ30 recombinant viruses containing a 30 nucleotide deletion (Δ30) in a section of the 3′ untranslated region (UTR) that is homologous to that in the rDEN4Δ30 recombinant virus, (3) a method to generate a tetravalent dengue virus vaccine composed of rDEN1Δ30, rDEN2Δ30, rDEN3Δ30, and rDEN4Δ30, 4) attenuated antigenic chimeric viruses, rDEN1/4Δ30, rDEN2/4Δ30, and rDEN3/4Δ30, for which the CME, ME, or E gene regions of rDEN4Δ30 have been replaced with those derived from DEN1, DEN2, or DEN3; alternatively rDEN1/3Δ30, rDEN2/3Δ30, and rDEN4/3Δ30 for which CME, ME, or E gene regions of rDEN3Δ30 have been replaced with those derived from DEN1, 2, or 4; alternatively rDEN1/2Δ30, rDEN3/2Δ30, and rDEN4/2Δ30 for which CME, ME, or E gene regions of rDEN2Δ30 have been replaced with those derived from DEN1, 3, or, 4; and alternatively rDEN2/1Δ30, rDEN3/1Δ30, and rDEN4/1Δ30 for which CME, ME, or E gene regions of rDEN1Δ30 have been replaced with those derived from DEN2, 3, or 4, and 5) a method to generate a tetravalent dengue virus vaccine composed of rDEN1/4Δ30, rDEN2/4Δ30, rDEN3/4Δ30, and rDEN4Δ30, alternatively rDEN1/3Δ30, rDEN2/3Δ30, rDEN4/3Δ30, and rDEN3Δ30, alternatively rDEN1/2Δ30, rDEN3/2Δ30, rDEN4/2Δ30, and rDEN2Δ30, and alternatively rDEN2/1Δ30, rDEN3/1Δ30, rDEN4/1Δ30, and rDEN1Δ30. These tetravalent vaccines are unique since they contain a common shared attenuating mutation which eliminates the possibility of generating a virulent wild-type virus in a vaccinee since each component of the vaccine possesses the same Δ30 attenuating deletion mutation. In addition, the rDEN1Δ30, rDEN2Δ30, rDEN3Δ30, rDEN4Δ30 tetravalent vaccine is the first to combine the stability of the Δ30 mutation with broad antigenicity. Since the Δ30 deletion mutation is in the 3′ UTR of each virus, all of the proteins of the four component viruses are available to induce a protective immune response. Thus, the method provides a mechanism of attenuation that maintains each of the proteins of DEN1, DEN2, DEN3, and DEN4 viruses in a state that preserves the full capability of each of the proteins of the four viruses to induce humoral and cellular immune responses against all of the structural and non-structural proteins present in each dengue virus serotype.

As previously described, the DEN4 recombinant virus, rDEN4Δ30 (previously referred to as 2AΔ30), was engineered to contain a 30 nucleotide deletion in the 3′ UTR of the viral genome (Durbin, A. P. et al. 2001 Am J Trop Med Hyg 65:405-13; Men, R. et al. 1996 J Virol 70:3930-7). Evaluation in rhesus monkeys showed the virus to be significantly attenuated relative to wild-type parental virus, yet highly immunogenic and completely protective. Also, a phase I clinical trial with adult human volunteers showed the rDEN4Δ30 recombinant virus to be safe and satisfactorily immunogenic (Durbin, A. P. et al. 2001 Am J Trop Med Hyg 65:405-13). To develop a tetravalent vaccine bearing a shared attenuating mutation in a untranslated region, we selected the Δ30 mutation to attenuate wild-type dengue viruses of serotypes 1, 2, and 3 since it attenuated wild-type DEN4 virus for rhesus monkeys and was safe in humans (FIG. 1).

The Δ30 mutation was first described and characterized in the DEN4 virus (Men, R. et al. 1996 J Virol 70:3930-7). In DEN4, the mutation consists of the removal of 30 contiguous nucleotides comprising nucleotides 10478-10507 of the 3′ UTR (FIG. 2A) which form a putative stem-loop structure referred to as TL2 (Proutski, V. et al. 1997 Nucleic Acids Res 25:1194-202). Among the flaviviruses, large portions of the UTR form highly conserved secondary structures (Hahn, C. S, et al. 1987 J Mol Biol 198:33-41; Proutski, V. et al. 1997 Nucleic Acids Res 25:1194-202). Although the individual nucleotides are not necessarily conserved in these regions, appropriate base pairing preserves the stem-loop structure in each serotype, a fact that is not readily apparent when only considering the primary sequence (FIG. 2B, C).

Immunogenic Dengue Chimeras and Methods for their Preparation

Immunogenic dengue chimeras and methods for preparing the dengue chimeras are provided herein. The immunogenic dengue chimeras are useful, alone or in combination, in a pharmaceutically acceptable carrier as immunogenic compositions to minimize, inhibit, or immunize individuals and animals against infection by dengue virus.

Chimeras of the present invention comprise nucleotide sequences encoding the immunogenicity of a dengue virus of one serotype and further nucleotide sequences selected from the backbone of a dengue virus of a different serotype. These chimeras can be used to induce an immunogenic response against dengue virus.

In another embodiment, the preferred chimera is a nucleic acid chimera comprising a first nucleotide sequence encoding at least one structural protein from a dengue virus of a first serotype, and a second nucleotide sequence encoding nonstructural proteins from a dengue virus of a second serotype different from the first. In another embodiment the dengue virus of the second serotype is DEN4. In another embodiment, the structural protein can be the C protein of a dengue virus of the first serotype, the prM protein of a dengue virus of the first serotype, the E protein of a dengue virus of the first serotype, or any combination thereof.

The term “residue” is used herein to refer to an amino acid (D or L) or an amino acid mimetic that is incorporated into a peptide by an amide bond. As such, the amino acid may be a naturally occurring amino acid or, unless otherwise limited, may encompass known analogs of natural amino acids that function in a manner similar to the naturally occurring amino acids (i.e., amino acid mimetics). Moreover, an amide bond mimetic includes peptide backbone modifications well known to those skilled in the art.

Furthermore, one of skill in the art will recognize that individual substitutions, deletions or additions in the amino acid sequence, or in the nucleotide sequence encoding for the amino acids, which alter, add or delete a single amino acid or a small percentage of amino acids (typically less than 5%, more typically less than 1%) in an encoded sequence are conservatively modified variations, wherein the alterations result in the substitution of an amino acid with a chemically similar amino acid. Conservative substitution tables providing functionally similar amino acids are well known in the art. The following six groups each contain amino acids that are conservative substitutions for one another:

1) Alanine (A), Serine (S), Threonine (T);

2) Aspartic acid (D), Glutamic acid (E);

3) Asparagine (N), Glutamine (Q);

4) Arginine (R), Lysine (K);

5) Isoleucine (I), Leucine (L), Methionine (M), Valine (V); and

6) Phenylalanine (F), Tyrosine (Y), Tryptophan (W).

As used herein, the terms “virus chimera,” “chimeric virus,” “dengue chimera” and “chimeric dengue virus” means an infectious construct of the invention comprising nucleotide sequences encoding the immunogenicity of a dengue virus of one serotype and further nucleotide sequences derived from the backbone of a dengue virus of a different serotype.

As used herein, “infectious construct” indicates a virus, a viral construct, a viral chimera, a nucleic acid derived from a virus or any portion thereof, which may be used to infect a cell.

As used herein, “nucleic acid chimera” means a construct of the invention comprising nucleic acid comprising nucleotide sequences encoding the immunogenicity of a dengue virus of one serotype and further nucleotide sequences derived from the backbone of a dengue virus of a different serotype. Correspondingly, any chimeric virus or virus chimera of the invention is to be recognized as an example of a nucleic acid chimera.

The structural and nonstructural proteins of the invention are to be understood to include any protein comprising or any gene encoding the sequence of the complete protein, an epitope of the protein, or any fragment comprising, for example, three or more amino acid residues thereof

Dengue Chimeras

Dengue virus is a mosquito-borne flavivirus pathogen. The dengue virus genome contains a 5′ untranslated region (5′ UTR), followed by a capsid protein (C) encoding region, followed by a premembrane/membrane protein (prM) encoding region, followed by an envelope protein (E) encoding region, followed by the region encoding the nonstructural proteins (NS1-NS2A-NS2B-NS3-NS4A-NS4B-NS5) and finally a 3′ untranslated region (3′ UTR). The viral structural proteins are C, prM and E, and the nonstructural proteins are NS1-NS5. The structural and nonstructural proteins are translated as a single polyprotein and processed by cellular and viral proteases.

The dengue chimeras of the invention are constructs formed by fusing structural protein genes from a dengue virus of one serotype, e.g. DEN1, DEN2, DEN3, or DEN4, with non-structural protein genes from a dengue virus of a different serotype, e.g., DEN1, DEN2, DEN3, or DEN4.

The attenuated, immunogenic dengue chimeras provided herein contain one or more of the structural protein genes, or antigenic portions thereof, of the dengue virus of one serotype against which immunogenicity is to be conferred, and the nonstructural protein genes of a dengue virus of a different serotype.

The chimera of the invention contains a dengue virus genome of one serotype as the backbone, in which the structural protein gene(s) encoding C, prM, or E protein(s) of the dengue genome, or combinations thereof, are replaced with the corresponding structural protein gene(s) from a dengue virus of a different serotype that is to be protected against. The resulting viral chimera has the properties, by virtue of being chimerized with a dengue virus of another serotype, of attenuation and is therefore reduced in virulence, but expresses antigenic epitopes of the structural gene products and is therefore immunogenic.

The genome of any dengue virus can be used as the backbone in the attenuated chimeras described herein. The backbone can contain mutations that contribute to the attenuation phenotype of the dengue virus or that facilitate replication in the cell substrate used for manufacture, e.g., Vero cells. The mutations can be in the nucleotide sequence encoding nonstructural proteins, the 5′ untranslated region or the 3′ untranslated region. The backbone can also contain further mutations to maintain the stability of the attenuation phenotype and to reduce the possibility that the attenuated virus or chimera might revert back to the virulent wild-type virus. For example, a first mutation in the 3′ untranslated region and a second mutation in the 5′ untranslated region will provide additional attenuation phenotype stability, if desired. In particular, a mutation that is a deletion of 30 nts from the 3′ untranslated region of the DEN4 genome between nts 10478-10507 results in attenuation of the DEN4 virus (Men et al. 1996 J. Virology 70:3930-3933; Durbin et al. 2001 Am J Trop Med 65:405-413, 2001). Therefore, the genome of any dengue type 4 virus containing such a mutation at this locus can be used as the backbone in the attenuated chimeras described herein. Furthermore, other dengue virus genomes containing an analogous deletion mutation in the 3′ untranslated region of the genomes of other dengue virus serotypes may also be used as the backbone structure of this invention.

Such mutations may be achieved by site-directed mutagenesis using techniques known to those skilled in the art. It will be understood by those skilled in the art that the virulence screening assays, as described herein and as are well known in the art, can be used to distinguish between virulent and attenuated backbone structures.

Construction of Dengue Chimeras

The dengue virus chimeras described herein can be produced by substituting at least one of the structural protein genes of the dengue virus of one serotype against which immunity is desired into a dengue virus genome backbone of a different serotype, using recombinant engineering techniques well known to those skilled in the art, namely, removing a designated dengue virus gene of one serotype and replacing it with the desired corresponding gene of dengue virus of a different serotype. Alternatively, using the sequences provided in GenBank, the nucleic acid molecules encoding the dengue proteins may be synthesized using known nucleic acid synthesis techniques and inserted into an appropriate vector. Attenuated, immunogenic virus is therefore produced using recombinant engineering techniques known to those skilled in the art.

As mentioned above, the gene to be inserted into the backbone encodes a dengue structural protein of one serotype. Preferably the dengue gene of a different serotype to be inserted is a gene encoding a C protein, a prM protein and/or an E protein. The sequence inserted into the dengue virus backbone can encode both the prM and E structural proteins of the other serotype. The sequence inserted into the dengue virus backbone can encode the C, prM and E structural proteins of the other serotype. The dengue virus backbone is the DEN1, DEN2, DEN3, or DEN4 virus genome, or an attenuated dengue virus genome of any of these serotypes, and includes the substituted gene(s) that encode the C, prM and/or E structural protein(s) of a dengue virus of a different serotype, or the substituted gene(s) that encode the prM and/or E structural protein(s) of a dengue virus of a different serotype.

Suitable chimeric viruses or nucleic acid chimeras containing nucleotide sequences encoding structural proteins of dengue virus of any of the serotypes can be evaluated for usefulness as vaccines by screening them for phenotypic markers of attenuation that indicate reduction in virulence with retention of immunogenicity. Antigenicity and immunogenicity can be evaluated using in vitro or in vivo reactivity with dengue antibodies or immunoreactive serum using routine screening procedures known to those skilled in the art.

Dengue Vaccines

The preferred chimeric viruses and nucleic acid chimeras provide live, attenuated viruses useful as immunogens or vaccines. In a preferred embodiment, the chimeras exhibit high immunogenicity while at the same time not producing dangerous pathogenic or lethal effects.

The chimeric viruses or nucleic acid chimeras of this invention can comprise the structural genes of a dengue virus of one serotype in a wild-type or an attenuated dengue virus backbone of a different serotype. For example, the chimera may express the structural protein genes of a dengue virus of one serotype in either of a dengue virus or an attenuated dengue virus background of a different serotype.

The strategy described herein of using a genetic background that contains nonstructural regions of a dengue virus genome of one serotype, and, by chimerization, the properties of attenuation, to express the structural protein genes of a dengue virus of a different serotype has lead to the development of live, attenuated dengue vaccine candidates that express structural protein genes of desired immunogenicity. Thus, vaccine candidates for control of dengue pathogens can be designed.

Viruses used in the chimeras described herein are typically grown using techniques known in the art. Virus plaque or focus forming unit (FFU) titrations are then performed and plaques or FFU are counted in order to assess the viability, titer and phenotypic characteristics of the virus grown in cell culture. Wild type viruses are mutagenized to derive attenuated candidate starting materials.

Chimeric infectious clones are constructed from various dengue serotypes. The cloning of virus-specific cDNA fragments can also be accomplished, if desired. The cDNA fragments containing the structural protein or nonstructural protein genes are amplified by reverse transcriptase-polymerase chain reaction (RT-PCR) from dengue RNA with various primers. Amplified fragments are cloned into the cleavage sites of other intermediate clones. Intermediate, chimeric dengue clones are then sequenced to verify the sequence of the inserted dengue-specific cDNA.

Full genome-length chimeric plasmids constructed by inserting the structural or nonstructural protein gene region of dengue viruses into vectors are obtainable using recombinant techniques well known to those skilled in the art.

Methods of Administration

The viral chimeras described herein are individually or jointly combined with a pharmaceutically acceptable carrier or vehicle for administration as an immunogen or vaccine to humans or animals. The terms “pharmaceutically acceptable carrier” or “pharmaceutically acceptable vehicle” are used herein to mean any composition or compound including, but not limited to, water or saline, a gel, salve, solvent, diluent, fluid ointment base, liposome, micelle, giant micelle, and the like, which is suitable for use in contact with living animal or human tissue without causing adverse physiological responses, and which does not interact with the other components of the composition in a deleterious manner.

The immunogenic or vaccine formulations may be conveniently presented in viral plaque forming unit (PFU) unit or focus forming unit (FFU) dosage form and prepared by using conventional pharmaceutical techniques. Such techniques include the step of bringing into association the active ingredient and the pharmaceutical carrier(s) or excipient(s). In general, the formulations are prepared by uniformly and intimately bringing into association the active ingredient with liquid carriers. Formulations suitable for parenteral administration include aqueous and non-aqueous sterile injection solutions which may contain anti-oxidants, buffers, bacteriostats and solutes which render the formulation isotonic with the blood of the intended recipient, and aqueous and non-aqueous sterile suspensions which may include suspending agents and thickening agents. The formulations may be presented in unit-dose or multi-dose containers, for example, sealed ampoules and vials, and may be stored in a freeze-dried (lyophilized) condition requiring only the addition of the sterile liquid carrier, for example, water for injections, immediately prior to use. Extemporaneous injection solutions and suspensions may be prepared from sterile powders, granules and tablets commonly used by one of ordinary skill in the art.

Preferred unit dosage formulations are those containing a dose or unit, or an appropriate fraction thereof, of the administered ingredient. It should be understood that in addition to the ingredients particularly mentioned above, the formulations of the present invention may include other agents commonly used by one of ordinary skill in the art.

The immunogenic or vaccine composition may be administered through different routes, such as oral or parenteral, including, but not limited to, buccal and sublingual, rectal, aerosol, nasal, intramuscular, subcutaneous, intradermal, and topical. The composition may be administered in different forms, including, but not limited to, solutions, emulsions and suspensions, microspheres, particles, microparticles, nanoparticles and liposomes. It is expected that from about 1 to about 5 doses may be required per immunization schedule. Initial doses may range from about 100 to about 100,000 PFU or FFU, with a preferred dosage range of about 500 to about 20,000 PFU or FFU, a more preferred dosage range of from about 1000 to about 12,000 PFU or FFU and a most preferred dosage range of about 1000 to about 4000 PFU or FFU. Booster injections may range in dosage from about 100 to about 20,000 PFU or FFU, with a preferred dosage range of about 500 to about 15,000, a more preferred dosage range of about 500 to about 10,000 PFU or FFU, and a most preferred dosage range of about 1000 to about 5000 PFU or FFU. For example, the volume of administration will vary depending on the route of administration. Intramuscular injections may range in volume from about 0.1 ml to 1.0 ml.

The composition may be stored at temperatures of from about −100° C. to about 4° C. The composition may also be stored in a lyophilized state at different temperatures including room temperature. The composition may be sterilized through conventional means known to one of ordinary skill in the art. Such means include, but are not limited to, filtration. The composition may also be combined with bacteriostatic agents to inhibit bacterial growth.

Administration Schedule

The immunogenic or vaccine composition described herein may be administered to humans, especially individuals travelling to regions where dengue virus infection is present, and also to inhabitants of those regions. The optimal time for administration of the composition is about one to three months before the initial exposure to the dengue virus. However, the composition may also be administered after initial infection to ameliorate disease progression, or after initial infection to treat the disease.

Adjuvants

A variety of adjuvants known to one of ordinary skill in the art may be administered in conjunction with the chimeric virus in the immunogen or vaccine composition of this invention. Such adjuvants include, but are not limited to, the following: polymers, co-polymers such as polyoxyethylene-polyoxypropylene copolymers, including block co-polymers, polymer p 1005, Freund's complete adjuvant (for animals), Freund's incomplete adjuvant; sorbitan monooleate, squalene, CRL-8300 adjuvant, alum, QS 21, muramyl dipeptide, CpG oligonucleotide motifs and combinations of CpG oligonucleotide motifs, trehalose, bacterial extracts, including mycobacterial extracts, detoxified endotoxins, membrane lipids, or combinations thereof.

Nucleic Acid Sequences

Nucleic acid sequences of dengue virus of one serotype and dengue virus of a different serotype are useful for designing nucleic acid probes and primers for the detection of dengue virus chimeras in a sample or specimen with high sensitivity and specificity. Probes or primers corresponding to dengue virus can be used to detect the presence of a vaccine virus. The nucleic acid and corresponding amino acid sequences are useful as laboratory tools to study the organisms and diseases and to develop therapies and treatments for the diseases.

Nucleic acid probes and primers selectively hybridize with nucleic acid molecules encoding dengue virus or complementary sequences thereof. By “selective” or “selectively” is meant a sequence which does not hybridize with other nucleic acids to prevent adequate detection of the dengue virus sequence. Therefore, in the design of hybridizing nucleic acids, selectivity will depend upon the other components present in the sample. The hybridizing nucleic acid should have at least 70% complementarity with the segment of the nucleic acid to which it hybridizes. As used herein to describe nucleic acids, the term “selectively hybridizes” excludes the occasional randomly hybridizing nucleic acids, and thus has the same meaning as “specifically hybridizing.” The selectively hybridizing nucleic acid probes and primers of this invention can have at least 70%, 80%, 85%, 90%, 95%, 97%, 98% and 99% complementarity with the segment of the sequence to which it hybridizes, preferably 85% or more.

The present invention also contemplates sequences, probes and primers that selectively hybridize to the encoding nucleic acid or the complementary, or opposite, strand of the nucleic acid. Specific hybridization with nucleic acid can occur with minor modifications or substitutions in the nucleic acid, so long as functional species-species hybridization capability is maintained. By “probe” or “primer” is meant nucleic acid sequences that can be used as probes or primers for selective hybridization with complementary nucleic acid sequences for their detection or amplification, which probes or primers can vary in length from about 5 to 100 nucleotides, or preferably from about 10 to 50 nucleotides, or most preferably about 18-24 nucleotides. Isolated nucleic acids are provided herein that selectively hybridize with the species-specific nucleic acids under stringent conditions and should have at least five nucleotides complementary to the sequence of interest as described in Molecular Cloning: A Laboratory Manual, 2nd ed., Sambrook, Fritsch and Maniatis, Cold Spring Harbor Laboratory, Cold Spring Harbor, N.Y., 1989.

If used as primers, the composition preferably includes at least two nucleic acid molecules which hybridize to different regions of the target molecule so as to amplify a desired region. Depending on the length of the probe or primer, the target region can range between 70% complementary bases and full complementarity and still hybridize under stringent conditions. For example, for the purpose of detecting the presence of dengue virus, the degree of complementarity between the hybridizing nucleic acid (probe or primer) and the sequence to which it hybridizes is at least enough to distinguish hybridization with a nucleic acid from other organisms.

The nucleic acid sequences encoding dengue virus can be inserted into a vector, such as a plasmid, and recombinantly expressed in a living organism to produce recombinant dengue virus peptide and/or polypeptides.

The nucleic acid sequences of the invention include a diagnostic probe that serves to report the detection of a cDNA amplicon amplified from the viral genomic RNA template by using a reverse-transcription/polymerase chain reaction (RT/PCR), as well as forward and reverse amplimers that are designed to amplify the cDNA amplicon. In certain instances, one of the amplimers is designed to contain a vaccine virus-specific mutation at the 3′-terminal end of the amplimer, which effectively makes the test even more specific for the vaccine strain because extension of the primer at the target site, and consequently amplification, will occur only if the viral RNA template contains that specific mutation.

Automated PCR-based nucleic acid sequence detection systems have been recently developed. TaqMan assay (Applied Biosystems) is widely used. A more recently developed strategy for diagnostic genetic testing makes use of molecular beacons (Tyagi and Kramer, 1996 Nature Biotechnology 14:303-308). Molecular beacon assays employ quencher and reporter dyes that differ from those used in the TaqMan assay. These and other detection systems may used by one skilled in the art.

Example 1 Improvement of Dengue Virus Vaccine Candidate rDEN4Δ30

The safety of recombinant live-attenuated dengue-4 vaccine candidate rDEN4Δ30 was evaluated in twenty human volunteers who received a dose of 5.0 log₁₀ plaque forming units (PFU) (Durbin A. P. et al. 2001 Am J Trop Med Hyg 65:405-413). The vaccine candidate was found to be safe, well-tolerated and immunogenic in all of the vaccinees. However, five of the vaccinees experienced a transient elevation in alanine aminotransferase levels, three experienced neutropenia and ten vaccinees developed an asymptomatic macular rash, suggesting that it may be necessary to further attenuate this vaccine candidate.

Currently, a randomized, double-blind, placebo-controlled, dose de-escalation study is being conducted to determine the human infectious dose 50 (HID₅₀) of rDEN4Δ30. Each dose cohort consists of approximately twenty vaccinees and four placebo recipients. To date, complete data for doses of 3.0 log₁₀ PFU and 2.0 log₁₀ PFU has been collected. rDEN4Δ30 infected 100% of vaccinees when 3.0 log₁₀ PFU was administered and 95% of vaccinees when 2.0 log₁₀ PFU was administered (Table 1). The vaccine candidate caused no symptomatic illness at either dose (Table 1). One vaccinee who received 3.0 log₁₀ PFU experienced a transient elevation in alanine aminotransferase levels and approximately one fourth of the vaccinees experienced neutropenia at both doses (Table 1). Neutropenia was transient and mild. More than half of the vaccinees developed a macular rash at both doses; the occurrence of rash was not correlated with vaccination dose or with viremia (Table 1 and Table 2). Neither peak titer nor onset of viremia differed between the 3.0 log₁₀ PFU and 2.0 log₁₀ PFU doses, though both measures of viremia were significantly lower for these doses than for a dose of 5.0 log₁₀ PFU (Table 3). The vaccine candidate was immunogenic in 95% of vaccinees at both doses and neutralizing antibody did not decline between days 28 and 42 post-vaccination (Table 4). Although the HID₅₀ has not been determined yet, it is clearly less than 2.0 log₁₀ PFU. Interestingly, decreases in the dose of vaccine have had no consistent effect on immunogenicity, viremia, benign neutropenia or the occurrence of rash. Thus it will not necessarily be possible to further attenuate rDEN4Δ30 by decreasing the dose of virus administered, and other approaches must be developed.

TABLE 1 rDEN4Δ30 clinical summary No. Mean No. volunteers with: No. of No. with peak Neutro- subjects Dose^(a) infected viremia titer^(b) Fever Rash penia^(c) ↑ALT 20 5.0 20 14 1.2 (0.2)  1^(d) 10 3 5 20 3.0 20  7 0.4 (0.0) 0 11 5  1^(e) 20 2.0 19 11 0.6 (0.1)  1^(d) 16 4 0  8   0  0  0 0 0  0 0 0 ^(a)Log₁₀ pfu ^(b)Log₁₀ pfu/mL ^(c)Neutropenia defined as ANC < 1500/dl ^(d)T Max in volunteer = 100.4° F. ^(e)ALT day 0 = 78, ALT max = 91 (day 14)

TABLE 2 Pattern of rash in vaccinees No. No. Mean with with Viremia Viremia Mean day of duration Dose^(a) viremia rash & rash no rash onset ± SD (days ± SD) 5 14/20 10/20 9/20 5/20  8.1 ± 1.3 [A]^(a) 3.6 ± 2.0 [A] 3  7/20 11/20 6/20 1/20 12.2 ± 1.4 [B] 5.0 ± 2.1 [A] 2 11/20 16/20 9/20 2/20 11.2 ± 1.4 [B] 6.9 ± 1.7 [B] ^(a)log₁₀ pfu ^(b) Means in each column with different letters are significantly different (α = 0.05)

TABLE 3 rDEN4Δ30 viremia summary Mean onset of Mean duration # with Mean peak titer viremia of viremia Dose^(a) viremia (log₁₀ pfu/mL) (day ± SD) (day ± SD) 5 14 1.2 ± 0.2 [A]  5.8 ± 2.4 [A]^(b) 4.4 ± 2.4 [A] 3 7 0.4 ± 0.0 [B] 9.1 ± 2.5 [B] 1.6 ± 1.0 [B] 2 11 0.6 ± 0.1 [B] 8.7 ± 2.4 [B] 2.6 ± 2.0 [A] ^(a)log₁₀ pfu ^(b)Means in each column with different letters are significantly different (α = 0.05)

TABLE 4 Immunogenicity of rDEN4Δ30 Geometric mean serum neutralizing % No. of Dose No. antibody titer (range) sero- subjects (log₁₀) infected Day 28 Day 42 conversion 20 5.0 20  567 (72-2455) 399 (45-1230) 100 20 3.0 20 156 (5-2365) 158 (25-1222) 95 20 2.0 19 163 (5-943)  165 (5-764)  95 8 0 0 0 0 0

Two approaches have been taken to further attenuate rDEN4Δ30. This first is the generation and characterization of attenuating point mutations in rDEN4 using 5′ fluorouracil mutagenesis (Blaney, J. E. Jr. et al. 2002 Virology 300: 125-139; Blaney, J. E. Jr. et at 2001 J. Virol. 75: 9731-9740). This approach has identified a panel of point mutations that confer a range of temperature sensitivity (ts) and small plaque (sp) phenotypes in Vero and HuH-7 cells and attenuation (att) phenotypes in suckling mouse brain and SCID mice engrafted with HuH-7 cells (SCID-HuH-7 mice). In this example, a subset of these mutations has been introduced to rDEN4Δ30 and the phenotypes of the resulting viruses evaluated.

A second approach was to create a series of paired charge-to-alanine mutations in contiguous pairs of charged amino acid residues in the rDEN4 NS5 gene. As demonstrated previously, mutation of 32 individual contiguous pairs of charged amino acid residues in rDEN4 NS5 conferred a range of ts phenotypes in Vero and HuH-7 cells and a range of att phenotypes in suckling mouse brain (Hanley, K. H. et al. 2002 J. Virol. 76 525-531). As demonstrated below, these mutations also confer an att phenotype in SCID-HuH-7 mice. These mutations have been introduced, either as single pairs or sets of two pairs, into rDEN4Δ30 to determine whether they are compatible with the Δ30 mutation and whether they enhance the att phenotypes of rDEN4Δ30.

A panel of rDEN4 viruses bearing individual point mutations have been characterized which possess temperature sensitive and/or small plaque phenotypes in tissue culture and varying levels of attenuated replication in suckling mouse brain when compared to wild type rDEN4 virus (Blaney, J. E. et al. 2002 Virology 300:125-139; Blaney, J. E. et al, 2001 J Virol. 75:9731-9740). Three mutations have been selected to combine with the Δ30 deletion mutation to evaluate their ability to further restrict replication of rDEN4Δ30 in rhesus monkeys. First, the missense mutation in NS3 at nucleotide 4995 (Ser>Pro) which confers temperature sensitivity in Vero and HuH-7 cells and restricted replication in suckling mouse brain was previously combined with the Δ30 mutation (Blaney, J. E. et al. 2001 J Virol. 75:9731-9740). The resulting virus, rDEN4Δ30-4995, was found to be more restricted (1,000-fold) in mouse brain replication than rDEN4Δ30 virus (<5-fold) when compared to wild type rDEN4 virus. Second, a missense mutation at nucleotide 8092 (Glu>Gly) which also confers temperature sensitivity in Vero and HuH-7 cells and 10,000-fold restricted replication in suckling mouse brain was combined with the Δ30 mutation here. Third, a substitution in the 3′ UTR at nucleotide 10634 which confers temperature sensitivity in Vero and HuH-7 cells, small plaque size in HuH-7 cells, and approximately 1,000-fold restricted replication in suckling mouse brain and SCID mice transplanted with HuH-7 cells was combined with the Δ30 mutation here (Blaney, J. E. et al. 2002 Virology 300:125-139).

For the present investigation, subcloned fragments of p4 (Durbin, A. P. et al. 2001 Am J Trop Med Hyg 65:405-13) containing the above mutations were introduced into the p4Δ30 cDNA clone. For transcription and recovery of virus, cDNA was linearized with Acc65I (isoschizomer of KpnI which cleaves leaving only a single 3′ nucleotide) and used as template for transcription by SP6 RNA polymerase as previously described (Blaney, J. E. et al. 2002 Virology 300:125-139), C6/36 mosquito cells were transfected using liposome-mediated transfection and cell culture supernatants were harvested between days five and seven. Recovered virus was terminally diluted twice in Vero cells and passaged two (rDEN4Δ30-4995) or three (rDEN4Δ30-8092 and rDEN4Δ30-10634) times in Vero cells.

The complete genomic sequences of rDEN4Δ30-4995, rDEN4Δ30-8092, and rDEN4Δ30-10634 viruses were determined as previously described (Durbin et al. 2001 Am. J. Trop. Med. Hyg, 65:405-413). As expected, each rDEN4Δ30 virus derivative contained the Δ30 mutation. Unexpectedly, in rDEN4Δ30-4995 virus, the nucleotide changes in the codon containing nucleotide 4995, resulted in a Ser>Leu amino acid change rather than a Ser>Pro change since the p4Δ30-4995 cDNA was designed to introduce the Ser>Pro change (Table 5). The p4Δ30-4995 cDNA clone was indeed found to encode a Ser>Pro change at nucleotide 4995, so it is unclear how the virus population acquired the Ser>Leu mutation. Nevertheless, this virus was evaluated to assess the phenotype specified by this missense mutation. rDEN4Δ30-4995 virus was also found to contain an incidental mutation at nucleotides 4725-6 which resulted in a single amino acid change (Ser>Asp). The rDEN4Δ30-8092 and rDEN4Δ30-10634 viruses contained the appropriate nucleotide substitutions as well as additional incidental mutations in E, NS4B and NS4B, respectively (Table 5).

TABLE 5 Missense and UTR mutations present in rDEN4Δ30 virus derivatives bearing introduced point mutations. Nucleo- Nucleo- Amino Amino tide tide sub- acid acid Virus Gene position stitution position^(a) change rDEN4Δ30- NS3 4725 U > G 1542 Ser > Asp 4995 NS3 4726 C > A 1542 Ser > Asp NS3  4995^(b) U > C 1632 Ser > Leu rDEN4Δ30- E 1612 A > C 504 Asp > Ala 8092 NS4B 7131 A > G 2344 Thr > Ala NS5  8092^(b) A > G 2664 Glu > Gly rDEN4Δ30- NS4B 6969 A > U 2290 Met > Leu 10634 NS4B 7182 G > C 2361 Gly > Arg 3′ UTR  10634^(b ) U > C none none ^(a)Amino acid position in DEN4 polyprotein beginning with the methionine residue of the C protein (nucleotides 102-104) as position 1. ^(b)Mutation restricts replication in mouse models of DEN4 infection which were introduced by Kunkel mutagenesis.

Replication of the three modified rDEN4Δ30 viruses were compared to rDEN4Δ30 and wild type rDEN4 virus in the suckling mouse brain model and SCID mice transplanted with HuH-7 cells (SCID-HuH-7 mice). Experiments were conducted as previously described (Blaney, J. E. et al. 2002 Virology 300:125-139; Blaney, J. E. et al. 2001 J Virol. 75:9731-9740). Briefly, for infection of suckling mouse brain, groups of six seven-day-old mice were inoculated intracerebrally with 4.0 log₁₀ PFU of virus and the brain of each mouse was removed five days later. Clarified supernatants of 10% brain suspensions were then frozen at −70° C., and the virus titer was determined by plaque assay in Vero cells. For analysis of DEN4 virus replication in SCID-HuH-7 mice, four to six week-old SCID mice were injected intraperitoneally with 10⁷ HuH-7 cells. Five to six weeks after transplantation, mice were infected by direct inoculation into the tumor with 4.0 log₁₀ PFU of virus, and serum for virus titration was obtained by tail-nicking on day 7. The virus titer was determined by plaque assay in Vero cells.

Wild type rDEN4 virus replicated to 6.0 log₁₀ PFU/g in suckling mouse brain, and rDEN4Δ30 was restricted in replication by 0.7 log₁₀ PFU/g, which is similar to previous observations (Table 6) (Blaney, J. E. et al. 2001 J Virol. 75:9731-9740). rDEN4Δ30-4995, rDEN4Δ30-8092, and rDEN4Δ30-10634 viruses were found to have restricted replication in suckling mouse brain when compared to rDEN4 virus of 3.3, 2.8, and 2.4 log₁₀ PFU/g, respectively. These results indicate that the additional attenuating mutations serve to further restrict replication of the rDEN4Δ30 virus in mouse brain ranging from 50-fold (rDEN4Δ30-10634) to 400-fold (rDEN4Δ30-4995). In SCID-HuH-7 mice, virus titer of rDEN4Δ30 virus was 0.4 log₁₀ PFU/ml lower than rDEN4 virus, which is also similar to previous studies (Blaney, J. E. et al. 2002 Virology 300:125-139). Each modified rDEN4Δ30 virus was found to be further restricted in replication in SCID-HuH7 mice (Table 6). rDEN4Δ30-4995, rDEN4Δ30-8092, and rDEN4Δ30-10634 viruses had restricted replication in SCID-HuH-7 mice when compared to rDEN4 virus of 2.9, 1.1, and 2.3 log₁₀ PFU/g below the level of wild type rDEN4 virus, respectively. Two important observations were made: (1) The 4995, 8092 and 10634 mutations were compatible for viability with the Δ30 mutation, and (2) These three modified rDEN4Δ30 viruses had between a 10 and 1,000-fold reduction in replication in comparison to rDEN4 wild-type virus, which allows viruses with a wide range of attenuation in this model to be further evaluated in monkeys or humans.

TABLE 6 Addition of point mutations in NS3, NS5, or the 3′ UTR to rDEN4Δ30 virus further attenuates the virus for suckling mouse brain and SCID-HuH-7 mice. Replication in suckling mouse Replication in SCID-HuH-7 brain^(a) mice^(c) Virus titer ± Mean log₁₀- Virus titer ± Mean SE unit SE log₁₀-unit No. of log₁₀PFU/g reduction No. of log₁₀PFU/ml reduction Virus mice brain from wt^(b) mice serum from wt^(b) rDEN4 12 6.0 ± 0.1 — 13 6.4 ± 0.2 — rDEN4Δ30 12 5.3 ± 0.1 0.7 20 6.0 ± 0.2 0.4 rDEN4Δ30-4995 6 2.7 ± 0.4 3.3 5 3.5 ± 0.3 2.9 rDEN4Δ30-8092 6 3.2 ± 0.2 2.8 7 5.0 ± 0.4 1.1 rDEN4Δ30-10634 12 3.6 ± 0.1 2.4 5 4.4 ± 0.3 2.3 ^(a)Groups of 6 suckling mice were inoculated i.e. with 10⁴ PFU of virus. Brains were removed 5 days later, homogenized, and titered in Vero cells. ^(b)Comparison of mean virus titers of mice inoculated with mutant virus and concurrent rDEN4 wt control. ^(c)Groups of HuH-7-SCID mice were inoculated directly into the tumor with 10⁴ PFU virus. Serum was collected on day 6 and 7 and titered in Vero cells.

Based on the findings in the two mouse models of DEN4 virus infection, each of the rDEN4Δ30-4995, rDEN4Δ30-8092, and rDEN4Δ30-10634 viruses was evaluated in the rhesus macaque model of DEN4 infection which has been previously described (Durbin et al. 2001 Am. J. Trop. Med. Hyg. 65:405-413). Briefly, groups of four (rDEN4Δ30-4995, rDEN4Δ30-8092, and rDEN4Δ30-10634) or two (rDEN4, rDEN4Δ30, mock) monkeys were inoculated with 5.0 log₁₀ PFU virus subcutaneously. Monkeys were observed daily and serum was collected on days 0 to 6, 8, 10, and 12, and virus titers were determined by plaque assay in Vero cells for measurement of viremia. On day 28, serum was drawn and the level of neutralizing antibodies was tested by plaque reduction assay in Vero cells as previously described (Durbin et al. 2001 Am. J. Trop. Med. Hyg. 65:405-413).

Viremia was detected beginning on day 1 post-infection and ended by day 4 in all monkeys (Table 7, FIG. 3). Viremia was present in each monkey infected with rDEN4, rDEN4Δ30, or rDEN4Δ30-10634 virus, but only 2 out of 4 monkeys infected with rDEN4Δ30-4995 or rDEN4Δ30-8092 virus had detectable viremia. As expected, infection with rDEN4 virus resulted in the highest mean number of viremic days per monkey (10 days) as well as mean peak virus titer (2.2 log₁₀ PFU/ml). Monkeys infected with rDEN4Δ30 virus had both a lower mean number of viremic days per monkey (2.0 days) and mean peak virus titer (1.1 log₁₀ FFU/ml) compared to rDEN4 virus. Groups of monkeys infected with each of the modified rDEN4Δ30 viruses had a further restricted mean number of viremic days with those inoculated with rDEN4Δ30-8092 virus having the lowest value, 0.5 days, a 4-fold reduction compared to rDEN4Δ30 virus. The mean peak virus titer of monkeys infected with rDEN4Δ30-4995 (0.9 log₁₀ PFU/ml) or rDEN4Δ30-8092 (0.7 log₁₀ PFU/ml) was also lower than those infected with rDEN4Δ30 virus. However, the mean peak virus titer of monkeys infected with rDEN4Δ30-10634 (1.3 log₁₀ PFU/ml) was slightly higher than those infected with rDEN4Δ30 particularly on day 2 (FIG. 3).

TABLE 7 Addition of point mutations to rDEN4Δ30 further attenuates the virus for rhesus monkeys. Geometric mean No. of Mean no. Mean peak serum neutralizing monkeys of viremic virus titer antibody titer No. of with days per (log₁₀PFU/ml ± (reciprocal dilution) Virus^(a) monkeys viremia monkey^(b) SE) Day 0 Day 28 mock 2 0 0   <0.7 <10 <10 rDEN4 2 2 3.0 2.2 ± 0.6 <10 398 rDEN4Δ30 2 2 2.0 1.1 ± 0.4 <10 181 rDEN4Δ30-4995 4 2 0.8 0.9 ± 0.2 <10 78 rDEN4Δ30-8092 4 2 0.5 0.7 ± 0.1 <10 61 rDEN4Δ30-10634 4 4 1.3 1.3 ± 0.2 <10 107 ^(a)Groups of rhesus monkeys were inoculated subcutaneously with 10⁵ PFU of the indicated virus in a 1 ml dose. Serum was collected on days 0 to 6, 8, 10, 12, and 28. Virus titer was determined by plaque assay in Vero cells. ^(b)Viremia was not detected in any monkey after day 4.

Serum collected on day 0 and 28 was tested for the level of neutralizing antibodies against rDEN4. No detectable neutralizing antibodies were found against DEN4 on day 0, as expected, since the monkeys were pre-screened to be negative for neutralizing antibodies against flaviviruses (Table 7). On day 28, monkeys infected with rDEN4 had a mean serum neutralizing antibody titer (reciprocal dilution) of 398 which was approximately two-fold higher than monkeys infected with rDEN4Δ30 virus (1:181). This result and the two-fold higher level of viremia in rDEN4 virus-infected monkeys are similar to results obtained previously (Durbin et al. 2001 Am. J. Trop. Med. Hyg. 65:405-413). Monkeys infected with rDEN4Δ30-4995 (1:78), rDEN4Δ30-8092 (1:61), and rDEN4Δ30-10634 (1:107) viruses each had a reduced mean serum neutralizing antibody titer compared to monkeys infected with rDEN4Δ30 virus. The four monkeys which had no detectable viremia did have serum neutralizing antibody titers indicating that they were indeed infected. Despite the slight increase in mean peak virus titer of rDEN4Δ30-10634 virus compared with rDEN4Δ30 virus, rDEN4Δ30-10634 virus had a lower mean serum neutralizing antibody titer compared to monkeys infected with rDEN4Δ30 virus. This and the lower mean number of viremic days per monkey suggests that the 10634 mutation can attenuate the replication of rDEN4Δ30 virus in monkeys.

On day 28 after inoculation, all monkeys were challenged with 5.0 log₁₀ PFU wild type rDEN4 virus subcutaneously. Monkeys were observed daily and serum was collected on days 28 to 34, 36, and 38, and virus titers were determined by plaque assay in Vero cells for measurement of viremia after challenge. Twenty eight days after rDEN4 virus challenge, serum was drawn and the level of neutralizing antibodies was tested by plaque reduction assay in Vero cells. Mock-inoculated monkeys had a mean peak virus titer of 2.3 log₁₀ PFU/ml after challenge with a mean number of viremic days of 3.5 (Table 8). However, monkeys inoculated with rDEN4, rDEN4Δ30, or each of the modified rDEN4Δ30 viruses had no detectable viremia, indicating that despite the decreased replication and immunogenicity of rDEN4Δ30-4995, rDEN4Δ30-8092, and rDEN4Δ30-10634 viruses, each was sufficiently immunogenic to induce protection against wild type rDEN4. Increases in mean neutralizing antibody titer were minimal (<3-fold) following challenge in all inoculation groups except mock-infected providing further evidence that the monkeys were protected from the challenge.

TABLE 8 rDEN4Δ30 containing additional point mutations protects rhesus monkeys from wt DEN4 virus challenge Mean no. of Geometric mean serum viremic days per Mean peak neutralizing antibody monkey after virus titer titer (reciprocal No. of rDEN4 (log₁₀PFU/ dilution) Virus^(a) monkeys challenge ml ± SE) Day 28 Day 56 Mock 2 3.5 2.3 ± 0.1 <10 358 rDEN4 2 0.0 <0.7 398 753 rDEN4Δ30 2 0.0 <0.7 181 202 rDEN4Δ30-4995 4 0.0 <0.7 78 170 rDEN4Δ30-8092 4 0.0 <0.7 61 131 rDEN4Δ30-10634 4 0.0 <0.7 107 177 ^(a)28 days after primary inoculation with the indicated viruses, rhesus monkeys were challenged subcutaneously with 10⁵ PFU rDEN4 virus in a 1 ml dose. Serum was collected on days 28 to 34, 36, 38, and 56. Virus titer was determined by plaque assay in Vero cells.

Taken together, these results indicate that the three point mutations, 4995, 8092, and 10634) described above do further attenuate the rDEN4Δ30 vaccine candidate in suckling mouse brain, SCID-HuH-7 mice, and rhesus monkeys. Because of additional incidental mutations (Table 4) present in each modified rDEN4Δ30 virus, the phenotypes cannot be directly attributed to the individual 4995, 8092, and 10634 point mutations. However, the presence of similar mouse-attenuation phenotypes in other rDEN4 viruses bearing one of these three mutations supports the contention that the 4995, 8092, and 10634 point mutations are responsible for the att phenotypes of the modified rDEN4Δ30 viruses. Since rDEN4Δ30-4995, rDEN4Δ30-8092, and rDEN4Δ30-10634 virus demonstrated decreased replication in rhesus monkeys while retaining sufficient immunogenicity to confer protective immunity, these viruses are contemplated as dengue vaccines for humans.

DEN4 viruses carrying both Δ30 and charge-to-alanine mutations were next generated. A subset of seven groups of charge-to-alanine mutations described above were identified that conferred between a 10-fold and 1,000-fold decrease in replication in SCID-HuH-7 mice and whose unmutated sequence was well-conserved across the four dengue serotypes. These mutations were introduced as single pairs and as two sets of pairs to rDEN4Δ30 using conventional cloning techniques. Transcription and recovery of virus and terminal dilution of viruses were conducted as described above. Assay of the level of temperature sensitivity of the charge-cluster-to-alanine mutant viruses in Vero and HuH-7 cells, level of replication in the brain of suckling mice and level of replication in SCID-HuH-7 mice was conducted as described above.

Introduction of one pair of charge-to-alanine mutations to rDEN4 produced recoverable virus in all cases (Table 9). Introduction of two pairs of charge-to-alanine mutations produced recoverable virus in two out of three cases (rDEN4Δ30-436-437-808-809 was not recoverable).

rDEN4Δ30 is not ts in Vero or HuH-7 cells. In contrast, seven of the seven sets of charge-to-alanine mutations used in this example conferred a ts phenotype in HuH-7 cells and five also conferred a ts phenotype in Vero cells. All six viruses carrying both Δ30 and charge-to-alanine mutations showed a ts phenotype in both Vero and HuH-7 cells (Table 9). rDEN4Δ30 is not attenuated in suckling mouse brain, whereas five of the seven sets of charge-to-alanine mutations conferred an att phenotype in suckling mouse brain (Table 10). Four of the viruses carrying both Δ30 and charge-to-alanine mutations were attenuated in suckling mouse brain (Table 10). In one case (rDEN4Δ30-23-24-396-397) combination of two mutations that did not attenuate alone resulted in an attenuated virus. Generally, viruses carrying both Δ30 and charge-to-alanine mutations showed levels of replication in the suckling mouse brain more similar to their charge-to-alanine mutant parent virus than to rDEN4Δ30.

rDEN4Δ30 is attenuated in SCID-HuH-7 mice, as are six of the seven charge-to-alanine mutant viruses used in this example. Viruses carrying both Δ30 and charge-to-alanine mutations tended to show similar or slightly lower levels of replication in SCID-HuH-7 mice compared to their charge-to-alanine mutant parent virus (Table 10). In three cases, viruses carrying both Δ30 and charge-to-alanine mutations showed at least a fivefold greater reduction in SCID-HuH-7 mice than rDEN4Δ30.

The complete genomic sequence of five viruses (rDEN4-200-201, rDEN4Δ30-200-201, rDEN4-436-437 [clone 1], rDEN4Δ30-436-437, and rDEN4-23-24-200-201) that replicated to >10⁵ PFU/ml in Vero cells at 35° C. and that showed a hundredfold or greater reduction in replication in SCID-HuH-7 mice was determined (Table 11). Each of the five contained one or more incidental mutations. In one virus, rDEN4Δ30-436-437, the one additional mutation has been previously associated with Vero cell adaptation (Blaney, J. E. Jr. et al. 2002 Virology 300:125-139). Each of the remaining viruses contained at least one incidental mutation whose phenotypic effect is unknown. Consequently, the phenotypes described cannot be directly attributed to the charge-to-alanine mutations. However, the fact that rDEN4 and rDEN4Δ30 viruses carrying the same charge-to-alanine mutations shared similar phenotypes provides strong support for the ability of charge-to-alanine mutations to enhance the attenuation of rDEN4Δ30. Because rDEN4-436-437 [clone 1] contained 4 incidental mutations, a second clone of this virus was prepared. rDEN4-436-437 [clone2] contained only one incidental mutation (Table 11), and showed the same phenotypes as rDEN4-436-437 in cell culture and SCID-HuH-7 mice. rDEN4-436-437 [clone 2] was used in the rhesus monkey study described below.

TABLE 9 Addition of charge-to-alanine mutations to rDEN4Δ30 confers a ts phenotype in both Vero and HuH-7 cells. Mean virus titer (log₁₀PFU/ml) at indicated temperature (° C.)^(a) AA No. nt Vero HuH-7 Virus changed^(b) changed 35 37 38 39 Δ^(c) 35 37 38 39 Δ rDEN4 none 0 7.4 7.1 7.7  7.2 0.2 7.7 7.5 7.5  7.4  0.3 rDEN4Δ30 none 30  6.6 6.6 6.5  6.5 0.1 7.4 6.9 7.0  6.4  1.0 rDEN4-23-24 KE 3 6.7 6.6 6.0  6.5 0.2 7.1 7.3 5.6 <1.7 >5.4 rDEN4Δ30-23-24 6.1 5.5 4.9 <1.7 4.4 6.5 5.9 4.7 <1.7 >4.2 rDEN4-200-201 KH 4 5.3 4.8 4.8  4.3 1.0 5.7 5.4 2.7 <1.7 >4.0 rDEN4Δ30-200-201 6.0 5.3 5.6 <1.7 >4.3 5.8 5.0 5.9 <1.7 >4.1 rDEN4-436-437 DK 4 5.2 4.2 3.4  1.9 3.3 5.9 4.9 3.2 <1.7 >4.2 rDEN4Δ30-436-437 6.3 5.7 5.5 <1.7 >4.6 6.5 5.7 5.1 <1.7 >4.8 [clone1] rDEN4-808-809 ED 3 4.6 4.1 <1.7  <1.7 >2.9 5.2 <1.7  <1.7  <1.7 >3.5 rDEN4Δ30-808-809 5.6 4.9 4.9 <1.7 >3.9 5.9 4.8 5.1 <1.7 >4.2 rDEN4-23-24-200-201 KE, KH 7 6.0 5.2 4.2 <1.7 >4.3 6.9 6.3 <1.7  <1.7 >5.2 rDEN4Δ30-23-24-200-201 4.5 4.2 4.8 <1.7 >2.8 4.9 4.5 2.9 <1.7 >3.2 rDEN4-23-24-396-397 KE, RE 7 6.5 5.8 5.5 <1.7 >4.8 7.1 5.9 5.4 <1.7 >5.4 rDEN4Δ30-23-24-396-397 6.1 5.2 4.8 <1.7 >4.4 6.9 5.4 4.9 <1.7 >5.2 rDEN-436-437-808-809 DK, ED 7 4.9 4.9 5.1 <1.7 >3.2 5.5 3.2 <1.7  <1.7 >3.8 ^(a)Underlined values indicate a 2.5 or 3.5 1og₁₀PFU/ml reduction in titer in Vero or HuH-7 cells, respectively, at the indicated temperature when compared to the permissive temperature (35° C.). ^(b)Amino acid pair(s) changed to pair of Ala residues. ^(c)Reduction in titer (log₁₀pfu/ml) compared to the permissive temperature (35° C.).

TABLE 10 Addition of charge-to-alanine mutations attenuates rDEN4Δ30 in suckling mouse brain and enhances attenuation in SCID-HuH-7 mice. Replication in suckling mice^(a) Replication in SCID-HuH-7 mice^(c) Mean log Mean log Mean virus titer ± SE reduction from Mean virus titer ± SE reduction from Virus n (log₁₀PFU/g brain) wt^(b) n (log₁₀PFU/ml serum) wt^(d) rDEN4 18 6.2 ± 0.4 — 33 5.4 ± 0.3 — rDEN4Δ30 12 5.9 ± 0.8 0.2 8 3.4 ± 0.3 2.3 rDEN4-23-24 18 4.7 ± 0.1 1.6 19 4.7 ± 0.5 1.3 rDEN4Δ30-23-24 6 5.6 ± 0.3 0.7 7 4.6 ± 0.4 1.5 rDEN4-200-201 12 5.5 ± 0.5 0.6 12 3.7 ± 0.2 2.6 rDEN4Δ30-200-201 6 5.5 ± 0.6 0.1 4 33 ± 0.6 1.8 rDEN4-436-437 18 2.7 ± 0.4 3.5 10 2.9 ± 0.7 2.5 rDEN4Δ30-436-437 [clone1] 6 2.9 ± 0.3 3.4 4 2.3 ± 0.4 2.8 rDEN4-808-809 6 1.8 ± 0.1 3.1 8 3.2 ± 0.4 3.0 rDEN4Δ30-808-809 12 3.9 ± 0.7 2.1 4 3.7 ± 0.6 2.4 rDEN4-23-24-200-201 12 5.3 ± 0.5 0.7 13 3.4 ± 0.1 2.9 rDEN4Δ30-23-24-200-201 6 3.0 ± 0.2 2.6 5 1.8 ± 0.1 3.3 rDEN4-23-24-396-397 12 4.6 ± 0.9 1.5 8 3.6 ± 0.3 2.3 rDEN4Δ30-23-24-396-397 6 3.0 ± 0.2 2.6 5 2.2 ± 0.3 2.9 rDEN-436-437-808-809 6 <1.7 ± 0.0  3.6 8 2.1 ± 0.3 2.4 ^(a)Groups of six suckling mice were inoculated i.e. with 10⁴ PFU virus in a 30 μl inoculum. The brain was removed 5 days later, homogenized, and virus was quantitated by titration in Vero cells. ^(b)Determined by comparing the mean viral titers in mice inoculated with sample virus and concurrent wt controls (n = 6). The attenuation (att) phenotype is defined as a reduction of ≥1.5 log₁₀PFU/g compared to wt virus; reductions of ≥1.5 are listed in boldface. ^(c)Groups of SCID-HuH-7 mice were inoculated directly into the tumor with 10⁴ PFU virus. ^(d)Determined by comparing mean viral titers in mice inoculated with sample virus and concurrent wt controls. The attenuation phenotype is defined as a reduction of ≥1.5 log₁₀ PFU/g compared to wt virus; reductions of ≥1.5 are listed in boldface.

TABLE 11 Missense and UTR mutations present in rDEN4 virus derivatives bearing charge-to-alanine and the Δ30 mutation. Nucleotide Nucleotide Amino acid Virus Gene^(a,b) position substitution position^(c) Amino acid change^(b) rDEN4-200-201 prM   626 A > T  61 Glu > Asp NS4A  6659 C > T  93 Leu > Phe NS5  8160-8165 AAACA > GCAGC 200-201 LysHis > AlaAla rDEN4A30-200-201 NS3  4830 G > A 102 Gly > Arg NS5  8106 G > A 181 Val > Ile NS5  8160-8165 AAACA > GCAGC 200-201 LysHis > AlaAla 3′ UTR 10478-10507 Δ30 deletion None None rDEN4-436-437 [clone 1] E  2331 T > G 464 Trp > Gly NS1  2845 C > T 140 Ser > Phe NS3*  4891 T > C 122 Ile > Thr NS5  8869-8873 GACAA > GCAGC 436-437 AspLys > AlaAla NS5  9659 A > G 699 Lys > Arg rDEN4-436-437 [clone 2] NS4B  7153 T > C 108 Val > Ala NS5  8869-8873 GACAA > GCAGC 436-437 AspLys > AlaAla rDEN4A30-436-437 NS4B*  7163 A > C 111 Leu > Phe NS5  8869-73 GACAA > GCAGC 436-437 AspLys > AlaAla 3′ UTR 10478-10507 Δ30 deletion None None rDEN4-23-24-200-201 NS3  6751 A > C 124 Lys > Thr NS5  7629-7633 AAAGA > GCAGC  23-24 LysGlu > AlaAla NS5  8160-8165 AAACA > GCAGC 200-201 LysHis > AlaAla ^(a)Asterisk indicates previously identified Vero cell adaptation mutation. ^(b)Bold values indicate mutations designed to occur in the designated virus. ^(c)Amino acid position in the protein product of the designated DEN4 gene; numbering starts with the amino terminus of the protein.

Based on the attenuation in the SCID-HuH7 mouse model, four of the charge-to-alanine mutant viruses (rDEN4-200-201, rDEN4Δ30-200-201, rDEN4-436-437 [clone 2], rDEN4Δ30-436-437) were evaluated in rhesus macaques as described above. As with the study of viruses carrying attenuating point mutations, viremia was detected on day 1 post-infection and ended by day 4 in all monkeys (FIG. 4, Table 12). Viremia was detected in most of the monkeys infected; only one of the four monkeys infected with rDEN4Δ30-200-201 and one of the four monkeys infected with rDEN4Δ30-436-437 showed no detectable viremia. Monkeys infected with rDEN4 showed the highest mean peak virus titer; and in each case viruses carrying the Δ30 mutation showed an approximately 0.5 log decrease in mean peak virus titer relative to their parental viruses and a 0.5 to 2 day decrease in mean number of viremic days per monkey. Monkeys infected with viruses carrying both the Δ30 and charge-to-alanine mutations showed a two-fold reduction in mean peak viremia relative to those infected with rDEN4Δ30. This suggests that addition of the charge-to-alanine mutations further attenuates rDEN4Δ30 for rhesus macaques.

As expected, none of the monkeys in this study showed detectable levels of neutralizing antibody on day 0. On day 28, every monkey infected with a virus showed a detectable levels of neutralizing antibody, indicating that all of the monkeys, even those that showed no detectable viremia, had indeed been infected. As in the study of attenuating point mutations, monkeys infected with rDEN4 had a mean serum neutralizing antibody titer (reciprocal dilution) which was approximately twice that of monkeys that had been infected with rDEN4Δ30. Monkeys infected with rDEN4-200-201 and rDEN4-436-437 [clone 2] had similar mean neutralizing antibody titers to rDEN4, and those infected with rDEN4Δ30-200-201 and rDEN4Δ30-436-437 had similar mean neutralizing antibody titers to rDEN4. In each case the addition of the Δ30 mutation to a virus resulted in a two-fold decrease in neutralizing antibody. Thus, although the addition of charge-to-alanine mutations to rDEN4Δ30 decreased mean peak viremia below that of rDEN4Δ30 alone, it did not affect levels of neutralizing antibody.

TABLE 12 Addition of paired charge-to-alanine mutations to rDEN4Δ30 further attenuates the virus for rhesus monkeys. Geometric mean serum neutralizing No. of Mean no. Mean peak antibody titer monkeys of viremic virus titer (reciprocal No. of with days per (log₁₀PFU/ dilution) Virus^(a) monkeys viremia monkey^(b) ml ± SE) Day 0 Day 28 mock 2 0 0 <0.7 <5 <5 rDEN4 2 2 2.5 2.6 ± 0.3 <5 276 rDEN4Δ30 2 2 2.0 2.1 ± 0.1 <5 131 rDEN4-200, 201 4 4 2.3 1.8 ± 0.3 <5 212 rDEN4Δ30-200, 201 4 3 1.5 1.3 ± 0.2 <5 139 rDEN4-436, 437[cl 2) 4 4 3.3 1.8 ± 0.2 <5 273 rDEN4Δ30-436, 437 4 3 1.3 1.0 ± 0.0 <5 143 ^(a)Groups of rhesus monkeys were inoculated subcutaneously with 10⁵ PFU of the indicated virus in a 1 ml dose. Serum was collected on days 0 to 6, 8, 10 and 28. Virus titer was determined by plaque assay in Vero cells. ^(b)Viremia was not detected in any monkey after day 4.

After challenge with rDEN4 on day 28, mock-infected monkeys had a mean peak virus titer of 1.5 log₁₀ PFU/ml and a mean number of viremic days of 3.0 (Table 13). However, none of the monkeys previously inoculated with rDEN4, rDEN4Δ30 or the charge-to-alanine mutant viruses showed detectable viremic. Additionally, none of the monkeys showed a greater than four-fold increase in serum neutralizing antibody titer. Together these data indicate that infection with any of the viruses, including those carrying both Δ30 and the charge-to-alanine mutations, protected rhesus macaques from challenge with rDEN4.

TABLE 13 rDEN4Δ30 containing charge-to-alanine mutations protects rhesus monkeys from wt DEN4 virus challenge Mean no. of Geometric mean serum viremic days Mean peak neutralizing antibody per monkey virus titer titer (reciprocal No. of after rDEN4 (log₁₀PFU/ dilution) Virus^(a) monkeys challenge ml ± SE) Day 28 Day 56 mock 2 3.0 1.5 ± 0.7 <5 284 rDEN4 2 0.0 <0.7 276 316 rDEN4Δ30 2 0.0 <0.7 131 96 rDEN4-200, 201 4 0.0 <0.7 212 356 rDEN4Δ30-200, 201 4 0.0 <0.7 139 132 rDEN4-436, 437 [cl 2] 4 0.0 <0.7 273 401 rDEN4Δ30-436, 437 4 0.0 <0.7 143 182 ^(a)28 days after primary inoculation with the indicated viruses, rhesus monkeys were challenged subcutaneously with 10⁵ PFU rDEN4 virus in a 1 ml dose. Serum was collected on days 28 to 34, 36, 10, and 56. Virus titer was determined by plaque assay in Vero cells.

Addition of charge-to-alanine mutations to rDEN4Δ30 can confer a range of ts phenotypes in both Vero and HuH-7 cells and att phenotypes in suckling mouse brain and can either enhance or leave unchanged attenuation in SCID-HuH-7 mice. Most importantly, addition of these mutations can decrease the viremia produced by rDEN4Δ30 in rhesus macaques without decreasing neutralizing antibody titer or protective efficacy. Thus addition of such mutations to rDEN4Δ30 is contemplated as enhancing attenuation in humans. Also, mutations are contemplated as being added that do not change the overall level of attenuation, but stabilize the attenuation phenotype because they themselves are independently attenuating even in the absence of the Δ30 mutation. Charge-to-alanine mutations are particularly useful because they occur outside of the structural gene regions, and so can be used to attenuate structural gene chimeric viruses. Moreover, they involve at least three nucleotide changes, making them unlikely to revert to wild type sequence.

A series of point mutations that enhance the replication of rDEN4 in Vero cells tissue culture have been identified; these are primarily located in the NS4B gene (Blaney, J. E. et. al. 2002 Virology 300:125-139; Blaney, J. E. et al. 2001 J Virol 75:9731-9740). Vero cell adaptation mutations confer two desirable features upon a vaccine candidate. First, they enhance virus yield in Vero cells, the intended substrate for vaccine production, and thus render vaccine production more cost-effective. Second, although each of these Vero adaptation mutations are point mutations, they are likely to be extremely stable during vaccine manufacture, because they give a selective advantage in Vero cells. At least one Vero cell adaptation mutation, at position 7129, was also shown to decrease mosquito infectivity of rDEN4; poor mosquito infectivity is another desirable characteristic of a dengue vaccine candidate. To investigate the generality of this finding, we tested the effect of the remaining Vero cell adaptation mutations on the ability of rDEN4 to infect Aedes aegypti mosquitoes fed on an infectious bloodmeal. Table 14 shows the infectivity of each virus carrying a single Vero cell adaptation mutation at high titer. Of these, only one mutation, at position 7182, was associated with a large decrease in mosquito infectivity. Thus 7182 may be a particularly valuable mutation to include in an rDEN4 vaccine candidate, as it has opposite effects on replication in Vero cells and in mosquitoes.

TABLE 14 Effect of Vero cell adaptation mutations on rDEN4 mosquito infectivity Aedes aegypti (oral infection) Dose^(a) % infected^(b) Virus (log₁₀pfu) No. tested Midgut Head rDEN4 4.3 27 70 25 rDEN4-4891 4.4 23 74 13 rDEN4-4995 4.8 20 80 50 rDEN4-7153 4.8 20 80 30 rDEN4-7546 4.6 20 55 10 rDEN4-7162 5.0 20 55 25 rDEN4-7163 4.9 15 73 72 rDEN4-7182 5.0 20 20 0 rDEN4-7630 4.3 10 70 10 ^(a)Virus titer ingested, assuming a 2 μl bloodmeal. ^(b)Percentage of mosquitoes with IFA detectable antigen in midgut or head tissue prepared 21 days after oral infection.

Example 2 Generation and Characterization of a Recombinant DEN1 Virus Containing the Δ30 Mutation

We first sought to determine if the Δ30 mutation was able to satisfactorily attenuate a wild-type DEN virus other than the DEN4 serotype. To do this, the Δ30 mutation was introduced into the cDNA for DEN1 (Western Pacific). The pRS424DEN1WP cDNA clone (Puri, B. et al. 2000 Virus Genes 20:57-63) was digested with BamHI and used as template in a PCR using Pfu polymerase with forward primer 30 (DEN1 nt 10515-10561 and 10592-10607) and the M13 reverse sequencing primer (101 nt beyond the 3′ end of DEN1 genome sequence). The resulting PCR product was 292 bp and contained the Δ30 mutation. The pRS424DEN1WP cDNA was partially digested with Apa I, then digested to completion with Sac H and the vector was gel isolated, mixed with PCR product, and used to transform yeast strain YPH857 to yield growth on plates lacking tryptophan (Polo, S. et al. 1997 J Virol 71:5366-74). Positive yeast colonies were confirmed by PCR and restriction enzyme analysis. DNA isolated from two independent yeast colonies was used to transform E. coli strain STBL2. Plasmid DNA suitable for generating RNA transcripts was prepared and the presence of the Δ30 mutation was verified by sequence analysis.

For transcription and generation of virus, cDNA (designated pRS424DEN1Δ30) that was linearized with Sac 11 was used as template in a transcription reaction using SP6 RNA polymerase as described (Polo, S. et al. 1997 J Virol 71:5366-74). Transcription reactions were electroporated into LLC-MK2 cells and infection was confirmed by observation of CPE and immunofluorescence and harvested on day 14. Virus stocks were amplified on C6/36 mosquito cells and titered on LLC-MK2 cells. The genome of the resulting virus, rDEN1Δ30, was sequenced to confirm the presence of the Δ30 mutation. The Δ30 mutation removes nucleotides 10562-10591 of DEN1 (FIG. 2B, C), which corresponds to the TL2 of DEN1. The virus replicates efficiently in Vero cell culture to titers of 6.5 log₁₀ PFU/ml, indicating that the Δ30 mutation is compatible with efficient growth of DENT in cell culture, a property essential for manufacture of the vaccine. Using similar techniques, parent virus rDEN1 was generated. Incidental mutations arising from virus passage in tissue culture were identified in both rDEN1 and rDEN1Δ30 using sequence analysis and are listed in Table 15. An additional rDEN1Δ30 virus was derived by transfection and amplification in Vero cells. Although this virus was not evaluated in the studies described below, its sequence analysis is included in Table 15. The properties of rDEN1Δ30 as a vaccine in vivo were next examined.

TABLE 15 Missense mutations present among the recombinant DEN1 viruses and correlation of NS4B region mutations with those found in DEN4 Nucle- Nucle- Amino Amino Transfection otide otide acid acid Virus cell type Gene position change position change wt rDEN1 LLC-MK2 prM  816 C > U  241 Ala > Val NS4B 7165^(a) U > G 2357 Phe > Leu NS4B 7173^(b) U > C 2360 Val > Ala rDEN1Δ30 LLC-MK2 E 1748 A > U  552 Thr > Ser rDEN1Δ30 Vero E 1545 A > G  484 Lys > Arg ^(a)Same nucleotide as 7154 in rDEN4. ^(b)Same nucleotide as 7162 in rDEN4

Nucleotide and Amino Acid Comparison of Selected NS4B Region:

  7         7         7         7         7         7 DEN4   1         1         1         1         1         1 base   3         4         5         6         7         8 SEQ ID Number: 890123456789012345678901234567890123456789012345678901234567 NO: ++    ++  + +++++  +  +  +  + ++  +    ++++++++ ++ ++ ++ ++ D4 7128- CCAACAACCUUGACAGCAUCCUUAGUCAUGCUUUUAGUCCAUUAUGCAAUAAUAGGCCCA 54 P  T  T  L  T  A  S  L  V  M  L  L  V  H  T  A  I  I  G  P 55 D1 7139- CCGCUGACGCUGACAGCGGCGGUAUUUAUGCUAGUGGCUCAUUAUGCCAUAAUUGGACCC 56 P  L  T  L  T  A  A  V  P  M  L  V  A  H  T  A  I  I  G  P 57 D2 7135- CCUAUAACCCUCACAGCGGCUCUUCUUUUAUUGGUAGCACAUUAUGCCAUCAUAGGACCG 58 P  I  T  L  T  A  A  L  L  L  L  V  A  H  T  A  I  I  G  P 59 D3 7130- CCACUAACUCUCACAGCGGCAGUUCUCCUGCUAGUCACGCAUUAUGCUAUUAUAGGUCCA 60 P  L  T  L  T  A  A  V  L  L  L  V  T  H  T  A  I  I  G  P 61 +     +  +  +  +              +        +  +  +  +  +  +  + D4 = rDEN4 D1 = rDEN1(WP) D2 = rDEN2(Tonga/74) D3 = rDEN3(Sleman/78) +Homology among all four serotypes Nucleotides are underlined in even multiples of 10.

Evaluation of the replication, immunogenicity, and protective efficacy of rDEN1Δ30 and wild-type parental rDEN1 virus (derived from the pRS424DEN1WP cDNA) in juvenile rhesus monkeys was performed as follows. Dengue virus-seronegative monkeys were injected subcutaneously with 5.0 log₁₀ PFU of virus in a 1 ml dose divided between two injections in each side of the upper shoulder area. Monkeys were observed daily and blood was collected on days 0-10 and 28 and serum was stored at −70° C. Titer of virus in serum samples was determined by plaque assay in Vero cells as described previously (Durbin, A. P. et al. 2001 Am J Trop Med Hyg 65:405-13). Plaque reduction neutralization titers were determined for the day 28 serum samples as previously described (Durbin, A. P. et al. 2001 Am J Trop Med Hyg 65:405-13). All monkeys were challenged on day 28 with a single dose of 5.0 log₁₀ PFU of wild-type rDEN1 and blood was collected for 10 days. Virus titer in post-challenge sera was determined by plaque assay in Vero cells. Monkeys inoculated with full-length wild-type rDEN1 were viremic for 2-3 days with a mean peak titer of 2.1 log₁₀ PFU/ml (Table 16), and monkeys inoculated with rDEN1Δ30 were viremic for less than 1 day with a mean peak titer of 0.8 log₁₀ PFU/ml, indicating that the Δ30 mutation is capable of attenuating DEN1. As expected for an attenuated virus, the immune response, as measured by neutralizing antibody titer, was lower following inoculation with rDEN1Δ30 compared to inoculation with wild-type rDEN1 (Table 16), yet sufficiently high to protect the animals against wild-type DEN1 virus challenge. Wild-type rDEN1 virus was not detected in any serum sample collected following virus challenge, indicating that monkeys were completely protected following immunization with either full-length wild-type rDEN1 or recombinant virus rDEN1Δ30. The level of attenuation specified by the Δ30 mutation was comparable in both the DEN1 and DEN4 genetic backgrounds (FIG. 5).

TABLE 16 The Δ30 mutation attenuates rDEN1 for rhesus monkeys Mean Mean peak Mean no. Mean peak neutrali- titer of days with titer zation challenge Virus* n viremia (1og₁₀pfu/ml) titer virus rDEN1 4 2.8 2.1 1230 <0.7 rDEN1Δ30 4 0.5 0.8 780 <0.7 *Rhesus monkeys were inoculated subcuateously with 5.0 log₁₀ PFU of virus. Serum samples were collected daily for 10 days. Serum for neutralization assay was collected on day 28. All monkeys were challenged on day 28 with 5,0 log₁₀ PFU of rDEN1.

As previously reported, rDEN4 virus replicated to greater than 6.0 log₁₀ PFU/ml serum in SCID-HuH-7 mice, while the replication of rDEN4 virus bearing the Δ30 mutation was reduced by about 10-fold (Blaney, J. E. Jr. et al. 2002 Virology 300:125-139). The replication of rDEN1Δ30 was compared to that of wt rDEN1 in SCID-HuH-7 mice (Table 17). rDEN1Δ30 replicated to a level approximately 100-fold less than its wt rDEN1 parent. This result further validates the use of the SCID-HuH-7 mouse model for the evaluation of attenuated strains of DEN virus, with results correlating closely with those observed in rhesus monkeys.

TABLE 17 The Δ30 mutation attenuates rDEN1 for HuH-7-SCID mice No. of Mean peak virus titer⁶ Virus Mice⁵ (log₁₀pfu/ml ± SE) wt rDEN1 9 7.3 ± 0.2 rDEN1Δ30 8 5.0 ± 0.3 ⁵Groups of HuH-7-SCID mice were inoculated directly into the tumor with 4.0 log₁₀pfu virus. Serum was collected on day 6 and 7, and virus titer was detelinined by plaque assay in Vero cells. ⁶Significant difference was found between rDEN1 and rDEN1Δ30 viruses, Tukey-Kramer test (P < 0.005).

Finally, the infectivity of rDEN1 and rDEN1Δ30 for mosquitoes was assessed, using the methods described in detail in Example 5. Previously, the Δ30 mutation was shown to decrease the ability of rDEN4 to cross the mosquito midgut barrier and establish a salivary gland infection (Troyer, J. M. et al. 2001 Am J Trop Med Hyg 65:414-419). However neither rDEN1 nor rDEN1Δ30 was able to infect the midgut of Aedes aegypti mosquitoes efficiently via an artificial bloodmeal (Table 18), so it was not possible to determine whether Δ30 might further block salivary gland infection. A previous study also showed that the Δ30 had no effect on the infectivity of rDEN4 for Toxorhynchites splendens mosquitoes infected via intrathoracic inoculation (Troyer, J. M. et al. 2001 Am J Trop Med Hyg 65:414-419), and a similar pattern was seen for rDEN1 and rDEN1Δ30 (Table 18). The genetic basis for the inability of rDEN1 to infect the mosquito midgut has not been defined at this time. However, this important property of restricted infectivity for the mosquito midgut is highly desirable in a vaccine candidate since it would serve to greatly restrict transmission of the vaccine virus from a vaccinee to a mosquito vector.

TABLE 18 DEN1 and DEN1Δ30 viruses are both highly infectious for Toxorhynchites splendens, but do not infect Aedes aegypti efficiently. Taxorhynchites splendens Aedes aegypti (intrathoracic inoculation) (oral infection) Dose^(a) No. % % Dose^(c) No. infected^(d) Virus (log₁₀pfu) tested infected^(b) (log₁₀pfu) tested Midgut Head rDEN1 3.5 7 100 4.0 26 11 0 2.5 8 75 MID₅₀ ≥ 1.5 7 71 4.4 0.5 5 60 MID₅₀ < 0.5 rDEN1 2.7 8 100 3.2 20 10 0 Δ30 1.7 7 100 MID₅₀ ≥ 0.7 6 83 3.6 MID₅₀ < 0.7 ^(a)Amount of virus present in 0.22 μl inoculum. ^(b)Percentage of mosquitoes with IFA detectable antigen in head tissue prepared 14 days after inoculation. ^(c)Virus titer ingested, assuming a 2 μl bloodmeal. ^(d)Percentage of mosquitoes with IFA detectable antigen in midgut or head tissue prepared 21 days after oral infection. When virus infection was detected, but did not exceed a frequency of 50% at the highest dose of virus ingested, the MID₅₀ was estimated by assuming that a 10-fold more concentrated virus dose would infect 100% of the mosquitoes.

Thus, the Δ30 mutation, first described in DEN4, was successfully transferred to rDEN1. The resulting virus, rDEN1Δ30, was shown to be attenuated in monkeys and SCID-HuH-7 mice to levels similar to recombinant virus rDEN4Δ30, thereby establishing the conservation of the attenuation phenotype specified by the Δ30 mutation in a different DEN virus background. Based on the favorable results of rDEN4Δ30 in recent clinical trials (Durbin, A. P. et al. 2001 Am J Trop Med Hyg 65:405-13), it is predicted that rDEN1Δ30 will be suitably attenuated in humans. To complete the tetravalent vaccine, attenuated rDEN2 and rDEN3 recombinant viruses bearing the Δ30 mutation are contemplated as being prepared (See Examples 3 and 4 below). The demonstration that the Δ30 mutation specifies a phenotype that is transportable to another DEN serotype has important implications for development of the tetravalent vaccine. This indicates that the Δ30 mutation is expected to have a corresponding effect on DEN2 and DEN3 wild-type viruses.

Example 3 Generation and Characterization of a Recombinant DEN2 Virus Containing the Δ30 Mutation

Evaluation of rDEN1Δ30 showed that it was satisfactorily attenuated. Based on this result, we sought to extend our technology to the creation of a DEN2 vaccine candidate. To do this, the Δ30 mutation was introduced into the cDNA of DEN2. A DEN2 virus isolate from a 1974 dengue epidemic in the Kingdom of Tonga (Tonga/74) (Gubler, D. J. et al. 1978 Am J Trop Med Hyg 27:581-589) was chosen to represent wt DEN2. The genome of DEN2 (Tonga/74) was sequenced in its entirety and served as consensus sequence for the construction of a full-length cDNA clone (Appendix 1). cDNA fragments of DEN2 (Tonga/74) were generated by reverse-transcription of the genome as indicated in FIG. 6A. Each fragment was subcloned into a plasmid vector and sequenced to verify that it matched the consensus sequence as determined for the virus. This yielded seven cloned cDNA fragments spanning the genome. Cloned fragments were modified as follows: Fragment X, representing the 5′ end of the genome was abutted to the SP6 promoter; Fragment L was modified to contain a translationally-silent SpeI restriction site at genomic nucleotide 2353; Fragment R was modified to contain a translationally-silent SpeI restriction site also at genomic nucleotide 2353, and to stabilize the eventual full-length clone, two additional translationally-silent mutations at nucleotides 2362-2364 and 2397 were created to ensure that translation stop codons were present in all reading frames other than that used to synthesize the virus polyprotein; Fragment A was modified at nucleotide 3582 to ablate a naturally occurring SpeI restriction site and at nucleotide 4497 to ablate a naturally occurring KpnI restriction site; Fragment C was modified at nucleotide 9374 to ablate a naturally occurring KpnI restriction site; and. Fragment Y, representing the 3′ end of the genome was abutted to a KpnI restriction site. Each fragment was added incrementally between the AscI and KpnI restriction sites of DEN4 cDNA clone p4 (Durbin, A. P. et al. 2001 Am J Trop Med Hyg 65:405-13) to generate a full-length DEN2 cDNA clone (p2) with the same vector background successfully used to generate rDEN4 and rDEN4Δ30. cDNA clone p2 was sequenced to confirm that the virus genome region matched the DEN2 (Tonga/74) consensus sequence, with the exception of the translationally-silent modifications noted above. The Δ30 mutation was introduced into Fragment Y to generate Fragment YΔ30. To create p2Δ30, the Fragment Y region of p2 was replaced with Fragment YΔ30 (FIG. 6A, B).

For transcription and generation of infectious virus, cDNA (p2 and p2Δ30) was linearized with Acc65I (isoschizomer of KpnI which cleaves leaving only a single 3′ nucleotide) and used as template in a transcription reaction using SP6 RNA polymerase as previously described (Blaney, J. E. et. al. 2002 Virology 300:125-139). Transcripts were introduced into Vero cells or C6/36 mosquito cells using liposome-mediated transfection and cell culture supernatants were harvested on day 7.

rDEN2 virus was recovered from the p2 cDNA in both Vero and C6/36 cells, while rDEN2Δ30 was recovered from the p2Δ30 cDNA clone in only C6/36 cells (Table 19). The level of infectious virus recovered in C6/36 cells was comparable for the p2 and p2Δ30 cDNA clones when assayed by plaque titration and immunostaining in Vero or C6/36 cells. As previously observed, the efficiency of transfection in C6/36 cells was higher than that in Vero cells. Two rDEN2Δ30 viruses were recovered from independent cDNA clones, #2 and #10.

TABLE 19 rDEN2 virus is recovered in Vero and C6/36 cells, but rDEN2Δ30 virus is recovered only in C6/36 cells. Virus titer of transfection harvest (day 7) determined in the indicated Transfection cDNA cell type (log₁₀PFU/ml) cell type construct Clone Virus Vero cells C6/36 cells Vero cells p2 #8A rDEN2 3.1 4.3 p2Δ30 #2 rDEN2Δ30 <0.7 <0.7 p2Δ30 #10 rDEN2Δ30 <0.7 <0.7 C6/36 cells p2 #8A rDEN2 5.5 7.5 p2Δ30 #2 rDEN2Δ30 4.8 7.6 p2Δ30 #10 rDEN2Δ30 4.6 7.5

To produce working stocks of rDEN2 and rDEN2Δ30 viruses, transfection harvests were passaged and terminally diluted in Vero cells, and genomic sequences of the viruses were determined. The Vero cell transfection harvest of rDEN2 virus was terminally diluted once in Vero cells, and individual virus clones were passaged once in Vero cells. To assess whether any homologous Vero cell adaptation mutations identified in the rDEN4 NS4B 7100-7200 region were present in these virus clones, seven independent terminally diluted clones were sequenced over this region. Each of the seven rDEN2 viruses contained a single nucleotide substitution in this region at nucleotide 7169 (U>C) resulting in a Val>Ala amino acid change. This nucleotide corresponds to the 7162 mutation identified in rDEN4 (Blaney, J. E. et. al. 2002 Virology 300:125-139), which has a known Vero cell adaptation phenotype suggesting that this mutation may confer a replication enhancement phenotype in rDEN2 virus. One rDEN2 virus clone was completely sequenced and in addition to the 7169 mutation, a missense mutation (Glu>Ala) was found in NS5 at residue 3051 (Table 20).

TABLE 20 Missense mutations which accumulate in rDEN2 and rDEN2Δ30 viruses after transfection or passage in Vero cells. Nucleotide Nucleotide Amino acid Amino acid Virus Gene position substitution position^(a) change rDEN2^(b) NS4B 7169^(c) U > C 2358 Val > Ala (Vero) NS5 9248 A > C 3051 Glu > Ala rDEN2Δ30^(d) NS3 4946 A > G 1617 Lys > Arg (Vero) NS4B 7169^(c) U > C 2358 Val > Ala ^(a)Amino acid position in DEN2 polyprotein beginning with the methionine residue of the C protein (nucleotides 97-99) as position 1. ^(b)Virus was recovered in Vero cells and terminally-diluted once in Vero cells. Virus stock was prepared in Vero cells. ^(c)Same nucleotide position as 7162 in rDEN4. ^(d)Virus was recovered in C6/36 cells and passaged three times in Vero cells. Virus was then terminally diluted and a stock was prepared in Vero cells.

Because both rDEN2 and rDEN2Δ30 viruses grown in Vero cells acquired the same mutation at nucleotide 7169, which corresponds to the Vero cell adaptation mutation previously identified in rDEN4 at nucleotide 7162, it was reasoned that this mutation is associated with growth adaptation of rDEN2 and rDEN2Δ30 in Vero cells. In anticipation that the 7169 mutation may allow rDEN2Δ30 to be recovered directly in Vero cells, the mutation was introduced into the rDEN2Δ30 cDNA plasmid to create p2Δ30-7169. Transcripts synthesized from p2Δ30-7169, as well as p2 and p2Δ30 were introduced into Vero cells or C6/36 mosquito cells using liposome-mediated transfection as described above. Virus rDEN2Δ30-7169 was recovered from the p2Δ30-7169 cDNA in both Vero and C6/36 cells, while rDEN2Δ30 was recovered from the p2Δ30 cDNA clone in only C6/36 cells (Table 21). The 7169 mutation is both necessary and sufficient for the recovery of rDEN2Δ30 in Vero cells,

TABLE 21 rDEN2Δ30-7169 virus containing the 7169 Vero cell adaptation mutation is recovered in both Vero and C6/36 cells Virus titer of transfection harvest (day 14) Transfection cDNA determined in C6/36 cell type construct Clone Virus cells (log₁₀PFU/ml) Vero cells p2 #8A rDEN2 6.8 p2Δ30 #2 rDEN2Δ30 <0.7 p2Δ30-7169^(a) #37 rDEN2Δ30-7169 5.1 C6/36 cells p2 #8A rDEN2 6.9 p2Δ30 #2 rDEN2Δ30 7.1 p2Δ30-7169 #37 rDEN2Δ30-7169 7.2 ^(a)Nucleotide 7169 in rDEN2 corresponds to nucleotide 7162 in rDEN4 which has been shown to be associated with growth adaptation in Vero cells.

To initially assess the ability of the Δ30 mutation to attenuate rDEN2 virus in an animal model, the replication of DEN2 (Tonga/74), rDEN2, and rDEN2Δ30 viruses was evaluated in SCID-HuH-7 mice. Previously, attenuation of vaccine candidates in SCID-HuH-7 mice has been demonstrated to be predictive of attenuation in the rhesus monkey model of infection (Examples 1 and 2). The recombinant viruses tested in this experiment were recovered in C6/36 cells. The DEN2 Tonga/74 virus isolate, rDEN2, and two independent rDEN2Δ30 viruses, (clones 20A and 21A) which were derived from two independent p2Δ30 cDNA clones, were terminally diluted twice in C6/36 cells prior to production of a working stock in C6/36 cells. These viruses should not contain any Vero cell adaptation mutations. DEN2 Tonga/74 virus replicated to a mean virus titer of 6.2 log₁₀ PFU/ml in the serum of SCID-HuH-7 mice, and rDEN2 virus replicated to a similar level, 5.6 log₁₀ PFU/ml (Table 22). Both rDEN2Δ30 viruses were greater than 100-fold restricted in replication compared to rDEN2 virus. These results indicate that the Δ30 mutation has an attenuating effect on replication of rDEN2 virus similar to that observed for rDEN4 and rDEN1 viruses.

TABLE 22 The Δ30 mutation restricts rDEN2 virus replication in SCID-HuH-7 mice. Mean virus titer ± Mean log₁₀-unit No. of SE (log₁₀PFU/ reduction from Virus mice ml serum)^(a) value for wt^(b) DEN2 (Tonga/74) 8 6.2 ± 0.3 — rDEN2 9 5.6 ± 0.2 — rDEN2Δ30 (clone 20A) 9 3.1 ± 0.2 2.5 rDEN2Δ30 (clone 21A) 9 2.9 ± 0.3 2.7 ^(a)Groups of SCID-HuH-7 mice were inoculated directly into the tumor with 10⁴ PFU virus grown in C6/36 cells. Serum was collected on day 7 and titered in C6/36 cells. ^(b)Comparison of mean virus titers of mice inoculated with mutant virus and concurrent rDEN2 control.

DEN2 virus replication in SCID-HuH-7 mice was also determined using DEN2 (Tonga/74), rDEN2, and rDEN2Δ30 which were passaged in Vero cells (see Table 20, footnotes b and d). Both rDEN2 and rDEN2Δ30 had acquired a mutation in NS4B, nucleotide 7169, corresponding to the 7162 mutation identified in rDEN4 as Vero cell adaptation mutation. In the presence of the 7169 mutation, the Δ30 mutation reduced replication of rDEN2Δ30 by 1.0 log₁₀ PFU/ml (Table 23). Previously, using virus grown in C6/36 cells and lacking the 7169 mutation, the Δ30 mutation reduced replication of rDEN2Δ30 by about 2.5 log₁ PFU/ml (Table 22). These results indicate that Vero cell growth adaptation in DEN2 may also confer a slight growth advantage in HuH-7 liver cells. Nevertheless, the attenuation conferred by the Δ30 mutation is still discernible in these Vero cell growth adapted viruses.

TABLE 23 The Δ30 mutation restricts Vero cell adapted rDEN2 virus replication in SCID-HuH-7 mice. No. Mean virus titer ± Mean log₁₀-unit of SE (log₁₀PFU/ reduction from Virus mice ml serum)^(a) value for wt^(b) DEN2 (Tonga/74) 6 5.9 ± 0.3 — rDEN2 7 5.9 ± 0.2 — rDEN2Δ30 9 4.9 ± 0.3 1.0 ^(a)Groups of SCID-HuH-7 mice were inoculated directly into the tumor with 10⁴ PFU virus. Serum was collected on day 7 and titered in C6/36 cells. ^(b)Comparison of mean virus titers of mice inoculated with rDEN2Δ30 and rDEN2 control.

Evaluation of the replication, immunogenicity, and protective efficacy of rDEN2Δ30 and wild-type parental rDEN2 virus in juvenile rhesus monkeys was performed as follows. Dengue virus-seronegative monkeys were injected subcutaneously with 5.0 log₁₀ PFU of virus in a 1 ml dose divided between two injections in each side of the upper shoulder area. Monkeys were observed daily and blood was collected on days 0-10 and 28 and serum was stored at −70° C. Viruses used in this experiment were passaged in Vero cells, and recombinant viruses contained the mutations shown in Table 20 (See footnotes b and d). Titer of virus in serum samples was determined by plaque assay in Vero cells as described previously (Durbin, A. P. et al. 2001 Am J Trop Med Hyg 65:405-13). Plaque reduction neutralization titers were determined for the day 28 serum samples as previously described (Durbin, A. P. et al. 2001 Am J Trop Med Hyg 65:405-13). All monkeys were challenged on day 28 with a single dose of 5.0 log₁₀ PFU of wt DEN2 (Tonga/74) and blood was collected for 10 days. Virus titer in post-challenge sera was determined by plaque assay in Vero cells. Monkeys inoculated with wt DEN2 (Tonga/74) or rDEN2 were viremic for 4-5 days with a mean peak titer of 2.1 or 1.9 log₁₀ PFU/ml, respectively.

Monkeys inoculated with rDEN2Δ30 were viremic for 2-3 days with a mean peak titer of 1.7 log₁₀ PFU/ml (Table 24, FIG. 7), indicating that the Δ30 mutation is capable of attenuating DEN2, although not to the same low level observed in rDEN1Δ30 (Table 16). As expected for an attenuated virus, the immune response, as measured by neutralizing antibody titer, was lower following inoculation with rDEN2Δ30 compared to inoculation with WI DEN2 (Tonga/74) or rDEN2 (Table 24), yet sufficiently high to protect the animals against wt DEN2 virus challenge (Table 25). Thus, the decreased number of days of viremia for rDEN2Δ30, the decreased mean peak titer, and the decreased serum antibody response indicate that the Δ30 mutation attenuates rDEN2 for rhesus monkeys.

TABLE 24 rDEN2Δ30 is slightly more attenuated for rhesus monkeys than rDEN2 Geometric mean serum neutralizing No. of Mean no. Mean peak antibody titer monkeys of viremic virus titer (reciprocal No. of with days per (log₁₀PFU/ml ± dilution) Virus^(a) monkeys viremia monkey^(b) SE) Day 0 Day 28 mock 2 0   0 <0.7 <10 <10 DEN2 (Tonga/74) 4 4 4.5 2.1 ± 0.3 <10 311 rDEN2 (Vero) 4 4 4.0 1.9 ± 0.1 <10 173 rDEN2Δ30 (Vero) 4 4 2.8 1.7 ± 0.2 <10 91 ^(a)Groups of rhesus monkeys were inoculated subcutaneously with 10⁵ PFU of the indicated virus in a 1 ml dose. Serum was collected on days 0 to 6, 8, 10, 12, and 28. Virus titer was determined by plaque assay in Vero cells. ^(b)Viremia was not detected in any monkey after day 8.

TABLE 25 rDEN2Δ30 protects rhesus monkeys from wt DEN2 virus challenge Mean no. of Geometric mean viremic days Mean peak serum neutralizing per monkey virus titer antibody titer No. of after DEN2 (log₁₀PFU/ (reciprocal dilution) Virus^(a) monkeys challenge ml ± SE) Day 28 Day 56 Mock 2 4.0 2.1 ± 0.1 <10 338 DEN2 4 0 <0.7 311 334 (Tonga/74) rDEN2 4 0 <0.7 173 318 (Vero) rDEN2Δ30 4 0 <0.7 91 267 (Vero) ^(a)28 days after inoculation with the indicated viruses, monkeys were challenged subcutaneously with 10⁵ PFU DEN2 (Tonga/74) in a 1 ml dose. Serum was collected on days 28 to 34, 36, 38, and 56. Virus titer was determined by plaque assay in Vero cells.

The infectivity of DEN2 (Tonga/74), rDEN2 and rDEN2Δ30 for Aedes aegypti mosquitoes via an artificial bloodmeal was evaluated using the methods described in detail in Example 5. However at doses of 3.3 to 3.5 log₁₀ pfu ingested, none of these three viruses infected any mosquitoes, indicating that DEN2 (Tonga/74) is poorly infectious for Aedes aegypti. As with rDEN1, the genetic basis for this lack of infectivity remains to be defined. The important property of restricted infectivity for the mosquito midgut is highly desirable in a vaccine candidate because it would serve to greatly restrict transmission of the virus from a vaccinee to a mosquito vector.

Several missense mutation identified in rDEN4 have been demonstrated to confer attenuated replication in suckling mouse brain and/or SCID-HuH-7 mice (Blaney, J. E. et al. 2002 Virology 300:125439; Blaney, J. E. et al. 2001 J Virol 75:9731-9740). In addition, missense mutations that enhance replication of rDEN4 virus in Vero cells have been characterized. The significant sequence conservation among the DEN virus serotypes provides a strategy by which the mutations identified in rDEN4 viruses are contemplated as being used to confer similar phenotypes upon rDEN2 virus. Six mutations identified in rDEN4 virus that are at a site conserved in rDEN2 virus are being introduced into the p2 and p2Δ30 cDNA clones (Table 26). Specifically, two rDEN4 mutations, NS3 4891 and 4995, which confer Vero cell adaptation phenotypes and decreased replication in mouse brain, one mutation, NS4B 7182, which confers a Vero cell adaptation phenotype, and three mutations, NS1 2650, NS3 5097, and 3′ UTR 10634 which confer decreased replication in mouse brain and SCID-HuH-7 mice are being evaluated. These mutations have been introduced into sub-cloned fragments of the p2 and p2Δ30 cDNA clones, and have been used to generate mutant full-length cDNA clones (Table 26), from which virus has been recovered in C6/36 cells (Table 27). The evaluation of these mutant rDEN2 viruses is contemplated as determining that such point mutations can be transported into a different DEN virus serotype and confer a similar useful phenotype, as has been demonstrated for the Δ30 deletion mutation.

TABLE 26 Introduction of conserved point mutations characterized in rDEN4 viruses into rDEN2 Tonga/74 virus. Phenotype in rDEN4 virus Mutation in rDEN4 virus Mutation introduced into DEN2 virus Nucleo- Amino Nucleo- Amino Mouse SCID- tide acid Amino tide acid Amino Vero brain HuH-7 Gene / posi- posi- acid posi- posi- acid RE site / Adaptation^(a) att^(b) att^(c) region tion tion^(d) change tion tion^(d) change mutagenic region^(e) + + − NS3 4891 1597 Ile > Thr 4889 1598 Ile > Thr Nar I CCAcgGGcGCCGT + + − NS3 4995 1632 Ser > Pro 4993 1633 Ser > Pro Stu I AAGGccTGGA + − − NS4b 7182 2361 Gly > Ser 7189 2365 Gly > Ser Xma I TAtccCCGGGAC − + + NS1 2650 850 Asn > Ser 2648 851 Asn > Ser Sac I AGAgcTctcTC − + + NS3 5097 1666 Asp > Asn 5095 1667 Asp > Asn Xma I GaATCTCCACCCgGA − + + 3′ UTR 10634 n/a^(f) n/a 10698 n/a n/a none CTGTcGAATC ^(a)Presence of the indicated mutation increases plaque size in Vero cells two-fold or greater than rDEN4 virus. ^(b)Presence of the indicated mutation restricts replication in 7-day-old mouse brain greater than 100-fold compared to rDEN4 virus. ^(c)Presence of the indicated mutation restricts replication in SCID-HuH-7 mice greater than 100-fold compared to rDEN4 virus. ^(d)Amino acid position in DEN4 or DEN2 polyprotein beginning with the methionine residue of the C protein (nucleotides 102-104 or 97-99, respectively) as position 1. ^(e)Primers were engineered which introduced (underline) translationally-silent restriction enzyme (RE) sites. Lowercase letters indicate nt changes and bold letters indicate the site of the 5-FU mutation, which in some oligonucleotides differs from the original nucleotide substitution change in order to create a unique RE site. The change preserves the codon for the amino acid substitution. ^(f)Nucleotide substitution in the 3′ UTR is U > C in DEN4 and DEN2 virus.

TABLE 27 rDEN2 viruses containing conserved 5-FU mutations are recovered in C6/36 cells. Virus Virus titer of trans- (nucleotide Nucleotide fection harvest (day 7) position in position in determined in C6/36 rDEN2) rDEN4 cells (log₁₀PFU/ml) rDEN2-4889 4891 7.6 rDEN2-4993 4995 7.2 rDEN2-7189 7182 3.5 rDEN2-2648 2650 —^(a) rDEN2-5095 5097 —^(a) rDEN2-10698 10634 7.7 ^(a)Transfection has not yet been attempted.

Example 4 Generation and Characterization of a Recombinant DEN3 Virus Containing the Δ30 Mutation

Because rDEN1Δ30 was satisfactorily attenuated, we sought to extend our technology to the creation of a DEN3 vaccine candidate. To do this, the Δ30 mutation was introduced into the cDNA of DEN3, similar to the method used to create rDEN2Δ30. A DEN3 virus isolate from a 1978 dengue epidemic in rural Sleman, Central Indonesia (Sleman/78) (Gubler, D. J. et al. 1981 Am J Trop Med Hyg 30:1094-1099) was chosen to represent wt DEN3. The genome of DEN3 (Sleman/78) was sequenced in its entirety and served as consensus sequence for the construction of a full-length cDNA clone (Appendix 2). cDNA fragments of DEN3 (Sleman/78) were generated by reverse-transcription of the genome as indicated in FIG. 8A. Each fragment was subcloned into a plasmid vector and sequenced to verify that it matched the consensus sequence as determined for the virus. This yielded six cloned cDNA fragments spanning the genome. Cloned fragments were modified as follows: Fragment 5, representing the 5′ end of the genome was abutted to the SP6 promoter preceded by an AscI restriction site; Fragment 1L was modified to contain a translationally-silent SpeI restriction site at genomic nucleotide 2345; Fragment 1R was modified to contain a translationally-silent SpeI restriction site also at genomic nucleotide 2345, and to stabilize the eventual full-length clone, three additional translationally-silent mutations at nucleotides 2354-2356, 2360-2362, and 2399 were created to ensure that translation stop codons were present in all reading frames other than that used to synthesize the virus polyprotein; Fragment 3 was modified at nucleotide 9007 to ablate a naturally occurring KpnI restriction site; and Fragment 4, representing the 3′ end of the genome was abutted to a KpnI restriction site. Each fragment was added incrementally between the AscI and KpnI restriction sites of DEN4 cDNA clone p4 (Durbin, A. P. et al. 2001 Am J Trop Med Hyg 65:405-13) to generate a full-length DEN3 cDNA clone with the same vector background successfully used to generate rDEN4 and rDEN2. However, a stable, full-length clone could not be recovered in E. coli when fragments 1L and 1R were combined into the same cDNA molecule. To overcome this instability, a synthetic DNA linker (FIG. 8A) containing redundant termination codons in each of the forward and reverse open reading frames was introduced into the SpeI restriction site at the same time that fragment 1L was added to complete the full-length cDNA construct. The resulting p3 clone containing the linker sequence was stable in E. coli, indicating that the linker sequence was sufficient to interrupt whatever deleterious element exists in this region. cDNA clone p3 was sequenced and the virus genome was found to match the DEN3 (Sleman/78) consensus sequence, with the exception of the linker sequence and translationally-silent modifications noted above (Appendix 2—shown with the linker sequence removed). The Δ30 mutation was introduced into Fragment 4 to generate Fragment 4Δ30. To create p3Δ30, the Fragment 4 region of p3 was replaced with Fragment 4Δ30 (FIG. 8A, B).

For transcription and generation of infectious virus, cDNA plasmids p3 and p3Δ30 were digested with SpeI and re-ligated to remove the linker sequence, linearized with Acc65I (isoschizomer of KpnI which cleaves leaving only a single 3′ nucleotide), and used as templates in a transcription reaction using SP6 RNA polymerase as previously described (Blaney, J. E. et. al. 2002 Virology 300:125-139). Transcripts were introduced into Vero cells or C6/36 mosquito cells using liposome-mediated transfection and cell culture supernatants were harvested on day 14.

rDEN3 virus was recovered from the p3 cDNA in both Vero and C6/36 cells, while rDEN3Δ30 was recovered from the p3Δ30 cDNA clone in only C6/36 cells (Table 28). The level of infectious virus recovered in C6/36 cells was comparable for the p3 and p3Δ30 cDNA clones when assayed by plaque titration in Vero or C6/36 cells. As previously observed, the efficiency of transfection in C6/36 cells was higher than that in Vero cells. Two rDEN3Δ30 viruses were recovered from independent cDNA clones, #22 and #41.

TABLE 28 rDEN3 virus is recovered in Vero and C6/36 cells, but rDEN3Δ30 virus is recovered only in C6/36 cells. Virus titer of transfection harvest (day 14) determined in the indicated Transfection cDNA cell type (log₁₀PFU/ml) cell type construct Clone Virus Vero cells C6/36 cells Vero cells P3 #50 rDEN3 5.2 6.3 p3Δ30 #22 rDEN3Δ30 <0.7 <0.7 p3Δ30 #41 rDEN3Δ30 <0.7 <0.7 C6/36 cells P3 #50 rDEN3 5.2 6.0 p3Δ30 #22 rDEN3Δ30 5.9 6.9 p3Δ30 #41 rDEN3Δ30 5.1 7.2

To produce working stocks of viruses, transfection harvests will be passaged and terminally diluted in Vero cells, and genomic sequences of the viruses will be determined. To improve virus yield in Vero cells, the Vero cell adaptation mutation previously identified in rDEN4 at nucleotide 7162 was introduced into the homologous NS4B region of p3 and p3Δ30 to create p3-7164 and p3Δ30-7164. This mutation creates a Val to Ala substitution at amino acid position 2357. As demonstrated for rDEN2Δ30, this mutation allowed for the direct recovery of virus in Vero cells (Table 27) and is anticipated to have the same effect for rDEN3Δ30.

To initially assess the ability of the Δ30 mutation to attenuate rDEN3 virus in an animal model, the replication of DEN3 (Sleman/78), rDEN3, and rDEN3Δ30 viruses will be evaluated in SCID-HuH-7 mice and rhesus monkeys. Previously, attenuation of vaccine candidates in SCID-HuH-7 mice has been demonstrated to be predictive of attenuation in the rhesus monkey model of infection (Examples 1 and 2). The evaluation of these mutant rDEN3 viruses is contemplated as determining that the Δ30 deletion mutations can be transported into the DEN3 virus serotype and confer a similar useful phenotype, as has been demonstrated for DEN1, DEN2, and DEN4.

In summary, the strategy of introducing the Δ30 mutation into wild-type DEN viruses of each serotype to generate a suitably attenuated tetravalent vaccine formulation is a unique and attractive approach for several reasons. First, the mutation responsible for attenuation is a 30-nucleotide deletion in the 3′ UTR, thus assuring that all of the structural and non-structural proteins expressed by each of the four components of the tetravalent vaccine are authentic wild-type proteins. Such wild-type proteins should elicit an antibody response that is broad based, rather than based solely on the M and E proteins that are present in chimeric dengue virus vaccine candidates (Guirakhoo, F. et al. 2001 J Virol 75:7290-304; Huang, C. Y. et al. 2000 J Virol 74:3020-8). The uniqueness of this approach derives from the fact that other live attenuated dengue virus vaccines have mutations in their structural or non-structural proteins (Butrapet, S. et al. 2000 J Virol 74:3011-9; Puri, B. et al. 1997 J Gen Virol 78:2287-91), therefore the immune response induced by these viruses will be to a mutant protein, rather than a wild-type protein. Second, deletion mutations are genetically more stable than point mutations, and reversion of the attenuation phenotype is unlikely. In humans, DEN4Δ30 present in serum of vaccinees retained its Δ30 mutation, confirming its genetic stability in vivo (Durbin, A. P. et al. 2001 Am J Trop Med Hyg 65:405-13). The attenuating mutations in other existing dengue live attenuated vaccine candidates are based on less stable point mutations (Butrapet, S. et al. 2000 J Virol 74:3011-9: Puri, B. et al. 1997 J Gen Virol 78:2287-91). Third, since the Δ30 mutation is common to each of the four viruses of the tetravalent vaccine, recombination between any of the four vaccine serotypes would not lead to loss of the attenuating mutation or reversion to a wild-type phenotype. Recombination between components of the trivalent polio vaccine has been observed (Guillot, S. et al. 2000 J Virol 74:8434-43), and naturally occurring recombinant dengue viruses have been described (Worobey, M. et al. 1999 PNAS USA 96:7352-7) indicating the ability of this flavivirus to exchange genetic elements between two different viruses. Clearly, gene exchange is readily achieved between different DEN virus serotypes using recombinant cDNA techniques (Bray, M. and Lai, C. J. 1991 PNAS USA 88:10342-6). Fourth, viruses with wild-type structural proteins appear more infectious than viruses with altered structural proteins (Huang, C. Y. et al. 2000 J Virol 74:3020-80). This permits the use of a low quantity of each of the four virus components in the final vaccine, contributing to the low cost of manufacture. Low-cost manufacture is an essential element in defining the ultimate utility of a dengue virus vaccine.

Example 5 Generation and Characterization of Intertypic Chimeric DEN2 Viruses Containing the Δ30 Mutation

The four serotypes of dengue virus are defined by antibody responses induced by the structural proteins of the virus, primarily by a neutralizing antibody response to the envelope (E) protein. These structural proteins include the E glycoprotein, a membrane protein (M), and a capsid (C) protein. The mature virus particle consists of a well-organized outer protein shell surrounding a lipid bilayer membrane and a less-well-defined inner nucleocapsid core (Kuhn, R. J. et al. 2002 Cell 108:717-25). The E glycoprotein is the major protective antigen and readily induces virus neutralizing antibodies that confer protection against dengue virus infection. An effective dengue vaccine must therefore minimally contain the E protein of all four serotypes, namely DEN1, DEN2, DEN3, and DEN4, thereby inducing broad immunity and precluding the possibility of developing the more serious illnesses DHF/DSS, which occur in humans during secondary infection with a heterotypic wild-type dengue virus. Based on a previously reported strategy (Bray, M. and Lai, C. J. 1991 PNAS USA 88:10342-6), a recombinant cDNA technology is being used to develop a live attenuated tetravalent dengue virus vaccine composed of a set of intertypic chimeric dengue viruses bearing the structural proteins of each serotype.

Following the identification of a suitably attenuated and immunogenic DEN4 recombinant virus, namely DEN4Δ30 (Durbin, A. P et al. 2001 Am J Trop Med Hyg 65:405-13), chimeric viruses based on the DEN4 cDNA have been generated in which the C-ME (CME) or M-E (ME) genes have been replaced with the corresponding genes derived from the prototypic DEN2 New Guinea C (NGC) strain (FIG. 9A). To create the CME chimeric viruses, the BglII/XhoI region of the cDNA for either rDEN4 or rDEN4Δ30 was replaced with a similar region derived from DEN2. Likewise, to create the ME chimeric viruses, the PstI/XhoI region of the cDNA for either rDEN4 or rDEN4Δ30 was replaced with a homologous region derived from DEN2. The nucleotide and amino acid sequences of the resulting junctions are shown in FIG. 9B. The GenBank accession number for the nucleotide sequence of rDEN4Δ30 is AF326837. The GenBank accession number for DEN2 NGC is M29095, which represents the mouse neurovirulent strain of DEN2 NGC and differs from the prototypic strain used here as previously documented (Bray, M. et al. 1998 J Virol 72:1647-51).

For transcription and generation of virus, chimeric cDNA clones were linearized and used as template in a transcription reaction using SP6 RNA polymerase as described (Durbin, A. P et al. 2001 Am J Trop Med Hyg 65:405-13). Transcripts were introduced into Vero cells using liposome-mediated transfection and recombinant dengue virus was harvested on day 7. The genomes of the resulting viruses were confirmed by sequence analysis of viral RNA isolated from recovered virus as previously described (Durbin, A. P et al. 2001 Am J Trap Med Hyg 65:405-13). Incidental mutations arising from virus passage in tissue culture were identified in all viruses and are listed in Table 29. Notably, each virus contained a missense mutation in NS4B corresponding to a previously identified mutation from rDEN4 and associated with adaptation to replication in Vero cells (See Table 30 for correlation of nucleotide positions between rDEN4 and chimeric viruses). All viruses replicated in Vero cells to titers in excess of 6.0 log₁₀ PFU/ml, indicating that the chimeric viruses, even those containing the Δ30 mutation, replicate efficiently in cell culture, a property essential for manufacture of the vaccine.

TABLE 29 Missense mutations observed among the Vero cell-grown chimeric DEN2/4 viruses Nucleotide Nucleotide Amino Amino acid Virus Gene position change acid position change rDEN2/4 NS4B 7161^(a) A > U 2355 Leu > Phe (CME) rDEN2/4Δ30 M  743 G > A 216 Gly > Glu (CME) E 1493 C > U 466 Ser > Phe NS4B 7544^(b) C > T 2483 Ala > Val rDEN2/4 E 1065 U > C 322 Phe > Leu (ME) NS4B 7163^(a) A > U 2354 Leu > Phe rDEN2/4Δ30 NS4B 7163^(a) A > C 2354 Leu > Phe (ME) ^(a)Same nucleotide position as 7163 in rDEN4. ^(b)Same nucleotide position as 7546 in rDEN4.

TABLE 30 Nucleotide (nt) length differences for DEN chimeric viruses compared to rDEN4. nt difference rDEN from rDEN4 chimeric (following ORF start Amino acid length virus CME region) (nt position) C M E 1/4 ME 0 102 113 166 495 1/4 CME +3 102 114 166 495 2/4 ME 0 102 113 166 495 2/4 CME −2 97 114 166 495 3/4 ME −6 102 113 166 493 3/4 CME −3 102 114 166 493 rDEN4 — 102 113 166 495

Results of a safety, immunogenicity, and efficacy study in monkeys are presented in Table 31. Monkeys inoculated with wild-type DEN2 were viremic for approximately 5 days with a mean peak titer of 2.1 log₁₀ PFU/ml, while monkeys inoculated with any of the chimeric DEN2 viruses were viremic for 1.2 days or less and had a mean peak titer of less than 1.0 log₁₀ PFU/ml. This reduction in the magnitude and duration of viremia clearly indicates that the chimeric viruses containing either the CME or ME proteins of DEN2 were more attenuated than the parental DEN2 NGC virus. Neither the animals receiving the wild-type DEN2 nor the DEN2/4 chimeric viruses were ill. The decreased replication of the attenuated viruses in monkeys is accompanied by a reduction in the immune response of inoculated monkeys. This is indicated in Table 31 by approximately a 5-fold reduction in the level of neutralizing antibody following inoculation with the chimeric viruses in comparison to titers achieved in animals inoculated with wild-type virus. Addition of the Δ30 mutation to the CME chimeric virus further attenuated the virus, such that rDEN2/4Δ30(CME) did not replicate in monkeys to a detectable level and did not induce a detectable immune response. This virus appeared over-attenuated, and if similar results were seen in humans, this virus would not be suitable for use as a vaccine. However, addition of the Δ30 mutation to the ME chimeric virus did not further attenuate this chimeric virus and the resulting rDEN2/4Δ30(ME) virus appears satisfactorily attenuated and immunogenic for use as a vaccine.

TABLE 31 Chimerization between dengue virus types 2 and 4 results in recombinant viruses which are attenuated for rhesus monkeys. Mean peak Geometric mean Mean no. virus titer neutralizing days with (log₁₀pfu/ antibody titer Group* Virus n viremia ml) (reciprocal) 1 rDEN2/4 6 1.2 0.9 50 (CME) 2 rDEN2/4Δ30 8 0 <0.7 <5 (CME) 3 rDEN2/4 4 1.0 0.8 76 (ME) 4 rDEN2/4Δ30 4 0.3 0.7 62 (ME) 5 DEN2 NGC 6 5.5 2.1 312 *Rhesus monkeys were inoculated subcutaneously with 5.0 log₁₀ PFU of virus. Serum samples were collected daily for 10 days. Serum for neutralization assay was collected on day 28. Serum samples obtained before virus inoculation had a neutralizing antibody titer of <5.

As described in the previous examples, SOD mice transplanted with the HuH-7 cells are a sensitive model for the evaluation of dengue virus attenuation. Each chimeric DEN2/4 virus was inoculated into groups of SCID-HuH-7 mice and levels of virus in the serum were determined (Table 32). Chimeric viruses replicated to levels between 20- and 150-fold lower than either of the parental viruses (rDEN4 and DEN2-NGC). CME chimeric viruses were slightly more attenuated than the comparable ME chimeric viruses, with the Δ30 mutation providing a 0.5 log₁₀ reduction in replication. This level of attenuation exerted by the Δ30 mutation was similar to that observed previously for rDEN4Δ30.

TABLE 32 Chimerization between dengue virus types 2 and 4 results in recombinant viruses which are attenuated for HuH-7-SCID mice. Mean peak virus titer No. of (log₁₀pfu/ Statistical Virus^(a) mice ml ± SE) group^(b) rDEN4 32 6.3 ± 0.2 A DEN2-NGC  9 6.1 ± 0.2 A rDEN214 (CME)  7 4.4 ± 0.3 B rDEN2/4Δ30 (CME)  7 3.9 ± 0.3 B rDEN2/4 (ME)  6 4.8 ± 0.5 B rDEN214Δ30 (ME)  9 4.3 ± 0.2 B ^(a)Groups of HuH-7-SCID mice were inoculated into the tumor with 4.0 log₁₀ PFU of the indicated virus. Serum was collected on day 7 and virus titer was determined in Vero cells. ^(b)Mean peak titers were assigned to statistical groups using the Tukey post-hoc test (P < 0.05). Groups with the same letter designation are not significantly different.

To evaluate the replication levels of each DEN2/4 chimeric virus in mosquitoes, two different genera of mosquitoes were experimentally infected. Aedes aegypti were infected by ingesting a virus-containing blood meal. By evaluating the presence of virus antigen in both the midgut and head tissue, infectivity could be determined for the local tissues (midgut), and the ability of virus to disseminate and replicate in tissues beyond the midgut barrier (head) could also be measured. The presence of virus in the head is limited by the ability of the ingested virus to replicate in the midgut and then disseminate to the salivary glands in the head, as well as the innate ability of the virus to replicate in the salivary glands. Intrathoracic inoculation of virus into Toxorhynchites splendens bypasses the mosquito midgut barrier. Parental viruses rDEN4 and DEN2-NGC readily infect Ae. aegypti and T. splendens (Table 33), with DEN2-NGC appearing to be much more infectious in T. splendens. Each of the rDEN2/4 chimeric viruses was also tested in both mosquito types. In many cases it was not possible to inoculate Ae. aegypti with an undiluted virus stock of sufficient titer to achieve a detectable infection due to the very low infectivity of several of the viruses. Nevertheless, it is clear that the rDEN2/4 chimeric viruses are less infectious for the midgut and head. Parental viruses rDEN4 and DEN2-NGC, administered at a maximum dose of approximately 4.0 log₁₀ PFU, were detectable in 74% and 94% of midgut preparations, and 32% and 71% of head preparations, respectively. Among the chimeric viruses, the highest level of infectivity, as observed for rDEN2/4Δ30(CME), resulted in only 26% infected midgut samples and 6% head samples. In the more permissive T. splendens, the rDEN2/4 chimeric viruses were generally less infectious than either parental virus, with CME chimeric viruses being less infectious than ME viruses. It has previously been reported for DEN4 that the Δ30 mutation does not have a discernable effect on virus infectivity in T. splendens similar to that observed here for the rDEN2/4 chimeric viruses (Troyer, J. M. et al. 2001 Am J Trop Med Hyg 65:414-419).

TABLE 33 Dengue 2/4 chimeric viruses are less infectious compared to either parental virus strain in mosquitoes Taxorhynchites splendens Aedes aegypti (intrathoracic inoculation) (oral infection) Dose^(a) No. % Dose^(c) No. % infected^(d) Virus log₁₀pfu tested infected^(b) log₁₀pfu tested Midgut Head rDEN4 3.3 6 83 3.8 38 74 32 2.3 7 57 2.8 15 26 6 1.3 6 0 1.8 20 10 5 MID₅₀ = 2.2 MID₅₀ = 3.4 MID₅₀ ≥ 4.1 DEN2-NGC 2.5 5 100 4.0 17 94 71 1.2 15  93 3.0 25 36 16 0.2 4 75 2.0 30 0 0  0.02 8 38 MID₅₀ = 3.2 MID₅₀ = 3.6 MID₅₀ = 0.5 rDEN2/4 (CME) 3.9 9 11 4.4 11 9 0 2.9 5 0 3.4 10 0 0 MID₅₀ ≥ 4.3 MID₅₀ ≥ 4.9 Nc^(e) rDEN2/4Δ30 3.5 6 17 4.0 15 26 6 (CME) 2.5 6 17 3.0 10 0 0 MID₅₀ ≥ 3.9 MID₅₀ ≥ 4.3 MID₅₀ ≥ 4.5 rDEN2/4 (ME) 3.4 6 100 3.9 23 4 0 2.4 5 20 MID₅₀ ≥ 4.4 Nc 1.4 5 0 MID₅₀ = 2.8 rDEN2/4Δ30 2.6 11  9 3.1 30 0 0 (ME) MID₅₀ ≥ 3.0 nc Nc ^(a)Amount of virus present in 0.22 μl inoculum. ^(b)Percentage of mosquitoes with IFA detectable antigen in head tissue prepared 14 days after inoculation. ^(c)Virus titer ingested, assuming a 2 μl bloodmeal. ^(d)Percentage of mosquitoes with IFA detectable antigen in midgut or head tissue prepared 21 days after oral infection. When virus infection was detected, but did not exceed a frequency of 50% at the highest dose of virus ingested, the MID₅₀ was estimated by assuming that a 10-fold more concentrated virus dose would infect 100% of the mosquitoes. ^(e)nc = not calculated, since virus antigen was not detected.

Chimerization of the DEN2 structural genes with rDEN4Δ30 virus resulted in a virus, rDEN2/4Δ30(CME), that had decreased replication in Vero cells compared to either parent virus. To evaluate Vero cell adaptation mutations (Blaney, J. E. et al. 2002 Virology 300:125-139) as a means of increasing the virus yield of a DEN vaccine candidate in Vero cells, selected mutations were introduced into this chimeric virus. Accordingly, rDEN2/4Δ30(CME) viruses bearing adaptation mutations were recovered, terminally diluted, and propagated in C6/36 cells to determine if the virus yield in Vero cells could be increased.

rDEN2/4Δ30(CME) viruses bearing Vero cell adaptation mutations were generated as follows. DNA fragments were excised from rDEN4 cDNA constructs encompassing single or double DEN4 Vero cell adaptation mutations and introduced into the cDNA clone of rDEN2/4Δ30(CME). The presence of the Vero cell adaptation mutation was confirmed by sequence analysis, and RNA transcripts derived from the mutant cDNA clones were transfected, terminally diluted, and propagated in C6/36 cells.

For evaluation of growth kinetics, Ver© cells were infected with the indicated viruses at a multiplicity of infection (MOD of 0.01. Confluent cell monolayers in duplicate 25-cm² tissue culture flasks were washed and overlaid with a 1 ml inoculum containing the indicated virus. After a two hour incubation at 37° C., cells were washed three times in MEM and 5 ml of MEM supplemented with 2% FBS was added. A 1 ml aliquot of tissue culture medium was removed, replaced with fresh medium, and designated the day 0 time-point. At the indicated time points post-infection, 1 ml samples of tissue culture medium were removed, clarified by centrifugation, and frozen at −80° C. The level of virus replication was assayed by plaque titration in. C6/36 cells and visualized by immunoperoxidase staining. The limit of detection was <0.7 log₁₀ FFU/ml.

The growth properties of rDEN2/4Δ30(CME) viruses bearing single Vero cell adaptation mutations at NS4B-7153, -7162, -7163, -7182, NS5-7630 or three combinations of mutations were compared in Vero cells with rDEN2/4Δ30(CME) virus (FIG. 10). Without an introduced Vero cell adaptation mutation, rDEN2/4Δ30(CME) virus yield peaked at 4.4 log₁₀ PFU/ml. Each individual adaptation mutation and the combined mutations conferred a substantial increase in replication. Specifically, rDEN2/4Δ30(CME)-7182 grew to the highest titer of 7.1 log₁₀ PFU/ml, which was a 500-fold increase in yield. rDEN2/4Δ30(CME)-7162 had the lowest yield but still was increased 125-fold over the level of replication by rDEN2/4Δ30(CME) virus. Introduction of two adaptation mutations into rDEN2/4Δ30(CME) virus did not significantly increase virus yield over that of viruses bearing single Vero cell adaptation mutations. The observed increase of up to 500-fold in virus yield by the introduction of a Vero cell adaptation mutation into this chimeric vaccine candidate demonstrates the value of identifying and characterizing specific replication-promoting sequences in DEN viruses.

These results have particular significance for the development of a live attenuated dengue virus vaccine. First, it is clear that chimerization leads to attenuation of the resulting virus, as indicated by studies in rhesus monkeys, HuH7-SCID mice and mosquitoes. Although this conclusion was not made in the previous study with DEN2/DEN4 or DEN1/DEN4 chimeric viruses (Bray, M. et al. 1996 J Virol 70:4162-6), careful examination of the data would suggest that the chimeric viruses are more attenuated in monkeys compared to the wild-type parent viruses. Second, the Δ30 mutation can further augment this attenuation in a chimeric-dependent manner. Specifically, in this example, chimeric viruses bearing the CME region of DEN2 were over-attenuated by the addition of Δ30, whereas the attenuation phenotype of chimeric viruses bearing just the ME region of DEN2 was unaltered by the addition of the Δ30 mutation. This unexpected finding indicates that in a tetravalent vaccine comprised of individual component viruses bearing a shared attenuating mutation, such as the Δ30 mutation, only ME chimeric viruses can be utilized since CME chimeric viruses bearing the Δ30 mutation can be over-attenuated in rhesus monkeys and might provide only limited immunogenicity in humans.

Example 6 Generation and Characterization of Intertypic Chimeric DEN3 Viruses Containing the Δ30 Mutation

Chimeric viruses based on the DEN4 cDNA have been generated in which the CME or ME genes have been replaced with the corresponding genes derived from DEN3 (Sleman/78), a virus isolate from the 1978 dengue outbreak in the Sleman region of Indonesia (Gubler, D. J. et al. 1981 Am J Trop Med Hyg 30:1094-1099) (Appendix 2). As described in Example 5 for the DEN2 chimeric viruses, CME chimeric viruses for DEN3 were generated by replacing the BglII/XhoI region of the cDNA for either rDEN4 or rDEN4Δ30 with a similar region derived from DEN3 (Sleman/78) (FIG. 11A). Likewise, to create the ME chimeric viruses, the PstI/XhoI region of the cDNA for either rDEN4 or rDEN4Δ30 was replaced with a similar region derived from DEN3 (Sleman/78). The nucleotide and amino acid sequences of the resulting junctions are shown in FIG. 11B. The genomes of the resulting viruses were confirmed by sequence analysis of viral RNA isolated from recovered virus as previously described (Durbin, A. P et al. 2001 Am J Trop Med Hyg 65:405-13). Incidental mutations arising from virus passage in tissue culture were identified in all viruses and are listed in Table 34. Notably, each virus contained a missense mutation in NS4B corresponding to a previously identified mutation from rDEN4 and associated with adaptation to growth in Vero cells (See Table 30 for correlation of nucleotide positions between rDEN4 and chimeric viruses). All viruses replicated in Vero cells to titers in excess of 5.7 log₁₀ PFU/ml, indicating that the chimeric viruses, even those containing the Δ30 mutation, replicate efficiently in cell culture, a property essential for manufacture of the vaccine.

TABLE 34 Missense mutations observed among Vero cell-grown chimeric DEN3/4 viruses Nucleotide Nucleotide Amino acid Amino acid Virus Gene position change position change rDEN3/4Δ30 M  825 T > C 242 Phe > Leu (CME) E 1641 C > T 514 Leu > Phe E 2113 A > G 671 Lys > Arg NS4B 7159^(a) T > C 2353 Leu > Ser rDEN3/4 M  460 A > G 120 Asp > Gly (ME) NS4B 7177^(b) G > U 2359 Gly > Val NS5 7702 C > U 2534 Ser > Phe rDEN3/4Δ30 E 1432 A > U 444 Gln > Leu (ME) NS4B 7156^(a) U > C 2352 Leu > Ser NS5 8692 A > C 2864 Asn > His ^(a)Same nucleotide position as 7162 in rDEN4. ^(b)Same nucleotide position as 7183 in rDEN4.

As described in the previous examples, SCID mice transplanted with HuH-7 cells are a sensitive model for the evaluation of dengue virus attenuation. Each chimeric DEN3/4 virus was inoculated into groups of SCID-HuH-7 mice and levels of virus in the serum were determined (Table 35). While chimeric virus rDEN3/4 (CME) was not attenuated, the remaining chimeric viruses replicated to levels between 40- and 400-fold lower than either of the parental viruses (rDEN4 and DEN3-Sleman/78). In the CME chimeric virus, the Δ30 mutation providing a remarkable 2.7 log₁₀ reduction in replication. This level of attenuation conferred by the Δ30 mutation in the CME chimeric virus was much greater than that observed previously for rDEN4Δ30. The rDEN3/4 (ME) virus was 100-fold reduced in replication compared to either parent virus indicating that the ME chimerization was attenuating per se. Addition of the Δ30 mutation to rDEN3/4 (ME) did not result in additional attenuation.

TABLE 35 Chimerization between dengue virus types 3 and 4 results in recombinant viruses which are attenuated for HuH-7-SCID mice. Mean peak virus titer No. of (log₁₀pfu/ Statistical Virus^(a) mice ml ± SE) group^(b) rDEN4 32 6.3 ± 0.2 A DEN3-Sleman/78 23 6.4 ± 0.2 A rDEN3/4 (CME)  7 6.4 ± 0.6 A rDEN3/4Δ30 (CME)  5 3.7 ± 0.4 B rDEN3/4 (ME)  6 4.2 ± 0.7 B rDEN3/4Δ30 (ME)  7 4.7 ± 0.4 A, B ^(a)Groups of HuH-7-SCID mice were inoculated into the tumor with 4.0 log₁₀ PFU of the indicated virus. Serum was collected on day 7 and virus titer was determined in Vero cells. ^(b)Mean peak titers were assigned to statistical groups using the Tukey post-hoc test (P < 0 .05). Groups with the same letter designation are not significantly different.

Evaluation of the replication and immunogenicity of the DEN3 chimeric recombinant viruses and wild-type DEN3 virus in monkeys was performed as described in Example 5. Results of this safety and immunogenicity study in monkeys are presented in Table 36. Monkeys inoculated with rDEN3/4(CME) and wild-type DEN (Sleman/78) were viremic for approximately 2 days with a mean peak titer of between 1.6 and 1.8 log₁₀ PFU/ml, respectively, indicating that chimerization of the CME structural genes of DEN3 did not lead to attenuation of virus replication, a different pattern than that observed for DEN2 chimerization (Table 31). However, chimerization of the ME structural genes resulted in attenuated viruses with undetectable viremia in monkeys, although all monkeys seroconverted with a greater than 10-fold increase in serum antibody levels. As expected for an attenuated virus, the immune response, as measured by neutralizing antibody titer, was lower following inoculation with any of the chimeric viruses compared to inoculation with wt DEN3 (Sleman178), yet sufficiently high to protect the animals against wt DEN3 virus challenge (Table 37). It is clear that addition of the Δ30 mutation to rDEN3/4(CME) was capable of further attenuating the resulting virus rDEN3/4Δ30(CME).

TABLE 36 The Δ30 mutation further attenuates rDEN3/4(CME) for rhesus monkeys Geometric mean Mean no. Mean peak serum neutralizing of viremic virus titer antibody titer No. of days per (log₁₀PFU/ (reciprocal dilution) Virus^(a) monkeys monkey^(b) ml ± SE) Day 0 Day 28 DEN3 4 2.3 1.8 <5 707 (Sleman/78) rDEN3/4 4 2.0 1.6 <5 211 (CME) rDEN3/4Δ30 4 0 <1.0 <5 53 (CME) rDEN3/4 4 0 <1.0 <5 70 (ME) rDEN3/4Δ30 4 0 <1.0 <5 58 (ME) ^(a)Groups of rhesus monkeys were inoculated subcutaneously with 10⁵ PFU of the indicated virus in a 1 ml dose. Serum was collected on days 0 to 6, 8, 10, 12, and 28. Virus titer was determined by plaque assay in Vero cells. ^(b)Viremia was not detected in any monkey after day 4.

TABLE 37 rDEN3/4 chimeric viruses protect rhesus monkeys from wt DEN3 virus challenge Mean no. Geometric mean of viremic serum neutralizing days per Mean peak antibody titer monkey after virus titer (reciprocal No. of rDEN3 (log₁₀PFU/ dilution) Virus^(a) monkeys challenge ml ± SE) Day 28 Day 56 Mock 2 5.0 2.5 ± 0.4 <5 372 DEN3 4 0 <1.0 707 779 (Sleman/78) rDEN3/4 4 0 <1.0 211 695 (CME) rDEN3/4Δ30 4 0.8 1.1 ± 0.2 53 364 (CME) rDEN3/4 4 0 <1.0 70 678 (ME) rDEN3/4Δ30 4 0 <1.0 58 694 (ME) ^(a)28 days after primary inoculation with the indicated viruses, rhesus monkeys were challenged subcutaneously with 10⁵ PFU DEN3 (Sleman/78) virus in a 1 ml dose. Serum was collected on days 28 to 34, 36, 38, and 56. Virus titer was determined by plaque assay in Vero cells.

To evaluate the replication levels of each DEN3/4 chimeric virus in mosquitoes, Aedes aegypti were infected by ingesting a virus-containing blood meal (Table 38). Parental viruses rDEN4 and DEN3 (Sleman/78) readily infect Ae. aegypti. Each of the rDEN3/4 chimeric viruses was also tested. In many cases it was not possible to infect Ae. aegypti with an undiluted virus stock of sufficient titer to achieve a detectable infection due to the very low infectivity of several of the viruses. At a dose of approximately 2.8-2.9 log₁₀ PFU, rDEN4, DEN3 (Sleman/78), and rDEN3/4(CME) were equally infectious and disseminated to the head with equal efficiency. For the remaining chimeric viruses, infection was not detectable even at a dose of 3.4 log₁₀ PFU, indicating that replication of rDEN3/4(ME) and rDEN3/4Δ30(CME) is restricted in Ae. aegypti. By comparing infectivity of rDEN3/4(CME) and rDEN3/4Δ30(CME), it is clear that the Δ30 mutation is capable of further attenuating the chimeric virus for mosquitoes.

TABLE 38 Ability of DEN3/4 chimeric viruses to infect Aedes aegypti fed an infectious bloodmeal. Dose No. No. (%) No. (%) Virus Ingested Mosquitoes Midgut Disseminated Tested (log₁₀pfu)^(a) Tested Infections^(b, c, d) Infections^(e) rDEN4 3.8 18 14 (77%) 2 (14%) 2.8 20  7 (34%) 2 (10%) 1.8 18 0 0 MID₅₀ = 3.4 MID₅₀ = 4.4 DEN3 2.9 16  3 (18%) 2 (12%) (Sleman) 1.9 10  1 (10%) 0 MID₅₀ ≥ 3.5 MID₅₀ ≥ 3.5 rDEN3/4 3.9 20  6 (30%) 2 (10%) (CME) 2.9 18  4 (22%) 0 1.9 13 1 (7%) 0 MID₅₀ ≥ 4.2 MID₅₀ ≥ 4.5 DEN3/4Δ30 3.3 20 0 0 (CME) MID₅₀ ≥ 4.3 MID₅₀ ≥ 4.3 DEN3/4 3.4 15 0 0 (ME) MID₅₀ ≥ 4.4 MID₅₀ ≥ 4.4 aAmount of virus ingested, assuming a 2 μl bloodmeal. ^(b)Number (percentage) of mosquitoes with detectable dengue virus in midgut tissue; mosquitoes were assayed 21 days post feed, and dengue virus antigen was identified by IFA. ^(c)When infection was detected, but did not exceed a frequency of 50% at the highest dose of virus ingested, the MID₅₀ was estimated by assuming that a 10-fold more concentrated virus dose would infect 100% of the mosquitoes. ^(d)When no infection was detected, the MID₅₀ was assumed to be greater than a 10-fold higher dose of virus than the one used. ^(e)Number (percentage) of mosquitoes with detectable dengue virus antigen in both midgut and head tissue.

Example 7 Generation and Characterization of Intertypic Chimeric DEN1 Viruses Containing the Δ30 Mutation

Chimeric viruses based on the DEN4 cDNA have been generated in which the CME or ME genes have been replaced with the corresponding genes derived from DEN1 (Puerto Rico/94), a virus isolate from a 1994 dengue outbreak in Puerto Rico (Appendices 3 and 4). As described in Example 4 for the DEN2 chimeric viruses, CME chimeric viruses for DEN1 were generated by replacing the BglII/XhoI region of the cDNA for either rDEN4 or rDEN4Δ30 with a similar region derived from DEN1 (Puerto Rico/94) (FIG. 12A). Likewise, to create the ME chimeric viruses, the PstI/XhoI region of the cDNA for either rDEN4 or rDEN4Δ30 was replaced with a similar region derived from DEN1 (Puerto Rico/94). The nucleotide and amino acid sequences of the resulting junctions are shown in FIG. 12B.

For transcription and generation of virus, chimeric cDNA clones were linearized and used as template in a transcription reaction using SP6 RNA polymerase as described. Transcripts were introduced into C6/36 mosquito cells using liposome-mediated transfection and recombinant dengue virus was harvested between day 7 and 14. Viruses were subsequently grown in Vero cells and biologically cloned by terminal dilution in Vero cells. All viruses replicated in Vero cells to titers in excess of 6.0 log₁₀ PFU/ml, indicating that the chimeric viruses, even those containing the Δ30 mutation, replicate efficiently in cell culture. Genomic sequence analysis is currently underway to identify incidental mutations arising from virus passage in tissue culture.

To evaluate the replication levels of DEN1/4(CME) and rDEN1/4Δ30(CME) chimeric virus in mosquitoes, Aedes aegypti were infected by ingesting a virus-containing blood meal (Table 39). Parental virus rDEN4 infects Ae. aegypti with an MID50 of 4.0 log₁₀ PFU. However, parental virus DEN1(Puerto Rico/94), is unable to infect Ae. aegypti at a dose of up to 3.4 log₁₀ PFU. Thus CME chimeric viruses DEN1/4 and rDEN1/4Δ30 share this inability to infect Ae. aegypti. Therefore, it is unnecessary in Ae. aegypti to evaluate the effect of the Δ30 mutation on the infectivity of the DEN1/4 chimeric viruses, in a manner similar to that used for the DEN2/4 and DEN3/4 chimeric viruses.

TABLE 39 Inability of DEN1/4 chimeric viruses to infect Aedes aegypti fed an infectious bloodmeal. Dose No. No. (%) No. (%) ingested Mosquitoes Midgut Disseminated Virus tested (log₁₀pfu)^(a) Tested Infections^(b, c, d) Infections^(e) rDEN4 4.3 21 18 (85%) 8 (44%) 3.3 15  3 (20%) 0 2.3 20 0 0 MID₅₀ = 4.0 MID₅₀ ≥ 4.3 DEN1 (Puerto 3.4 21 0 0 Rico/94) MID₅₀ ≥ 4.4 MID₅₀ ≥ 4.4 rDEN 1/4 3.8 20 0 0 (CME) MID₅₀ ≥ 4.8 MID₅₀ ≥ 4.8 rDEN1/4Δ30 2.8 20 0 0 (CME) MID₅₀ ≥ 3.8 MID₅₀ ≥ 3.8 ^(a)Amount of virus ingested, assuming a 2 μ bloodmeal. ^(b)Number (percentage) of mosquitoes with detectable dengue virus in midgut tissue; mosquitoes were assayed 21 days post feed, and dengue virus antigen was identified by IFA. ^(c)When infection was detected, but did not exceed a frequency of 50% at the highest dose of virus ingested, the MID₅₀ was estimated by assuming that a 10-fold more concentrated virus dose would infect 100% of the mosquitoes. ^(d)When no infection was detected, the MID₅₀ was assumed to be greater than a 10-fold higher dose of virus than the one used. ^(e)Number (percentage) of mosquitoes with detectable dengue virus antigen in both midgut and head tissue.

As described in the previous examples, SCID mice transplanted with the HuH-7 cells are a sensitive model for the evaluation of dengue virus attenuation. Each chimeric DEN1/4 virus was inoculated into groups of SCID-HuH-7 mice and levels of virus in the serum were determined (Table 40). Chimeric viruses replicated to levels between 15- and 250-fold lower than either of the parental viruses, rDEN4 and DEN1 (Puerto Rico/94). CME chimeric viruses were more attenuated than the comparable ME chimeric viruses, with the Δ30 mutation providing a 0.8 log_(e) reduction in replication. This level of attenuation exerted by the Δ30 mutation in the CME chimeric viruses was similar to that observed previously for rDEN4Δ30. However, the attenuating effect of the Δ30 mutation in the ME chimeric viruses is indiscernible.

TABLE 40 Chimerization between dengue virus types 1 and 4 results in recombinant viruses which are attenuated for HuH-7-SCID mice. Mean peak virus No. of titer (log₁₀pfu/ Statistical Virus^(a) mice ml ± SE) group^(b) rDEN4 32 6.3 ± 0.2 A DEN1 (Puerto Rico/94)  4 6.4 ± 0.2 A rDEN1/4 (CME)  8 4.7 ± 0.2 B, C rDEN1/4Δ30 (CME)  6 3.9 ± 0.4 C rDEN1/4 (ME)  6 5.0 ± 0.2 B rDEN1/4Δ30 (ME)  6 5.1 ± 0.3 B ^(a)Groups of HuH-7-SCID mice were inoculated into the tumor with 4.0 log₁₀ PFU of the indicated virus. Serum was collected on day 7 and virus titer was determined in Vero cells. ^(b)Mean peak titers were assigned to statistical groups using the Tukey post-hoc test (P < 0.05). Groups with the same letter designation are not significantly different.

Sequence Listing

The Sequence Listing is submitted as an ASCII text file in the for of the file named “Sequence.txt” (˜136 kb), which was created on Sep. 20, 2017, which is incorporated by reference herein.

APPENDIX 1 Nucleotide and amino acid sequence of DEN2 (Tonga/74) cDNA plasmid p2 (DNA: SEQ ID NO: 46; Protein: SEQ ID NO: 47) Bases 1 to 10713: DEN2 virus genome cDNA Bases 97 to 10269: DEN2 polyprotein ORF Bases 97 to 438: C protein ORF Bases 439 to 936: prM protein ORF Bases 937 to 2421: E protein ORF Bases 2422 to 3477: NS1 protein ORF Bases 3478 to 4131: NS2A protein ORF Bases 4132 to 4521: NS2B protein ORF Bases 4522 to 6375: NS3 protein ORF Bases 6376 to 6756: NS4A protein ORF Bases 6757 to 6825: 2K protein ORF Bases 6826 to 7569: NS4B protein ORF Bases 7570 to 10269: NS5 protein ORF                     10        20        30        40        50        60        70        80        90 100 AGTTGTTAGTCTACGTGGACCGACAAAGACAGATTCTTTGAGGGAGCTAAGCTCAACGTAGTTCTAACTGTTTTTTGATTAGAGAGCAGATCTCTGATGA Met>                    110       120       130       140       150       160       170       180       190 200 ATAACCAACGGAAAAAGGCGAGAAACACGCCTTTCAATATGCTGAAACGCGAGAGAAACCGCGTGTCAACTGTACAACAGTTGACAAAGAGATTCTCACT AsnAsnGlnArgLysLysAlaArgAsnThrProPheAsnMetLeuLysArgGluArgAsnArgValSerThrValGlnGlnLeuThrLysArgPheSerLeu>                    210       220       230       240       250       260       270       280       290 300 TGGAATGCTGCAGGGACGAGGACCACTAAAATTGTTCATGGCCCTGGTGGCATTCCTTCGTTTCCTAACAATCCCACCAACAGCAGGGATATTAAAAAGA GlyMetLeuGlnGlyArgGlyProLeuLysLeuPheMetAlaLeuValAlaPheLeuArgPheLeuThrIleProProThrAlaGlyIleLeuLysArg>                    310       320       330       340       350       360       370       380       390 400 TGGGGAACAATTAAAAAATCAAAGGCTATTAATGTTCTGAGAGGCTTCAGGAAAGAGATTGGAAGGATGCTGAATATCTTAAACAGGAGACGTAGAACTG TrpGlyThrIleLysLysSerLysAlaIleAsnValLeuArgGlyPheArgLysGluIleGlyArgMetLeuAsnIleLeuAsnArgArgArgArgThr>                    410       420       430       440       450       460       470       480       490 500 TAGGCATGATCATCATGCTGACTCCAACAGTGATGGCGTTTCATCTGACCACACGCAACGGAGAACCACACATGATTGTCAGTAGACAAGAAAAAGGGAA ValGlyMetIleIleMetLeuThrProThrValMetAlaPheHisLeuThrThrArgAsnGlyGluProHisMetIleValSerArgGlnGluLysGlyLys>                    510       520       530       540       550       560       570       580       590 600 AAGCCTTCTGTTCAAGACAAAGGATGGCACGAACATGTGTACCCTCATGGCCATGGACCTTGGTGAGTTGTGTGAAGACACAATCACGTATAAATGTCCT SerLeuLeuPheLysThrLysAspGlyThrAsnMetCysThrLeuMetAlaMetAspLeuGlyGluLeuCysGluAspThrIleThrTyrLysCysPro>                    610       620       630       640       650       660       670       680       690 700 TTTCTCAAGCAGAACGAACCAGAAGACATAGATTGTTGGTGCAACTCCACGTCCACATGGGTAACTTATGGGACATGTACCACCACAGGAGAGCACAGAA PheLeuLysGlnAsnGluProGluAspIleAspCysTrpCysAsnSerThrSerThrTrpValThrTyrGlyThrCysThrThrThrGlyGluHisArg>                    710       720       730       740       750       760       770       780       790 800 GAGAAAAAAGATCAGTGGCGCTTGTTCCACACGTGGGAATGGGATTGGAGACACGAACTGAAACATGGATGTCATCAGAAGGGGCCTGGAAACATGCCCA ArgGluLysArgSerValAlaLeuValProHisValGlyMetGlyLeuGluThrArgThrGluThrTrpMetSerSerGluGlyAlaTrpLysHisAlaGln>                    810       820       830       840       850       860       870       880       890 900 GAGAATTGAAACTTGGATTCTGAGACATCCAGGCTTTACCATAATGGCCGCAATCCTGGCATACACCATAGGGACGACGCATTTCCAAAGAGTCCTGATA ArgIleGluThrTrpIleLeuArgHisProGlyPheThrIleMetAlaAlaIleLeuAlaTyrThrIleGlyThrThrHisPheGlnArgValLeuIle>                    910       920       930       940       950       960       970       980       990 1000 TTCATCCTACTGACAGCCATCGCTCCTTCAATGACAATGCGCTGCATAGGAATATCAAATAGGGACTTTGTGGAAGGAGTGTCAGGAGGGAGTTGGGTTG PheIleLeuLeuThrAlaIleAlaProSerMetThrMetArgCysIleGlyIleSerAsnArgAspPheValGluGlyValSerGlyGlySerTrpVal>                   1010      1020      1030      1040      1050      1060      1070      1080      1090 1100 ACATAGTTTTAGAACATGGAAGTTGTGTGACGACGATGGCAAAAAACAAACCAACACTGGACTTTGAACTGATAAAAACAGAAGCCAAACAACCTGCCAC AspIleValLeuGluHisGlySerCysValThrThrMetAlaLysAsnLysProThrLeuAspPheGluLeuIleLysThrGluAlaLysGlnProAlaThr>                   1110      1120      1130      1140      1150      1160      1170      1180      1190 1200 CTTAAGGAAGTACTGTATAGAGGCCAAACTGACCAACACGACAACAGACTCGCGCTGCCCAACACAAGGGGAACCCACCCTGAATGAAGAGCAGGACAAA LeuArgLysTyrCysIleGluAlaLysLeuThrAsnThrThrThrAspSerArgCysProThrGlnGlyGluProThrLeuAsnGluGluGlnAspLys>                   1210      1220      1230      1240      1250      1260      1270      1280      1290 1300 AGGTTTGTCTGCAAACATTCCATGGTAGACAGAGGATGGGGAAATGGATGTGGATTGTTTGGAAAAGGAGGCATCGTGACCTGTGCTATGTTCACATGCA ArgPheValCysLysHisSerMetValAspArgGlyTrpGlyAsnGlyCysGlyLeuPheGlyLysGlyGlyIleValThrCysAlaMetPheThrCys>                   1310      1320      1330      1340      1350      1360      1370      1380      1390 1400 AAAAGAACATGGAAGGAAAAATTGTGCAGCCAGAAAACCTGGAATACACTGTCGTGATAACACCTCATTCAGGGGAAGAACATGCAGTGGGAAATGACAC LysLysAsnMetGluGlyLysIleValGlnProGluAsnLeuGluTyrThrValValIleThrProHisSerGlyGluGluHisAlaValGlyAsnAspThr>                   1410      1420      1430      1440      1450      1460      1470      1480      1490 1500 AGGAAAACATGGTAAAGAAGTCAAGATAACACCACAGAGCTCCATCACAGAGGCGGAACTGACAGGCTATGGCACTGTTACGATGGAGTGCTCTCCAAGA GlyLysHisGlyLysGluValLysIleThrProGlnSerSerIleThrGluAlaGluLeuThrGlyTyrGlyThrValThrMetGluCysSerProArg>                   1510      1520      1530      1540      1550      1560      1570      1580      1590 1600 ACGGGCCTCGACTTCAATGAGATGGTGTTGCTGCAAATGGAAGACAAAGCCTGGCTGGTGCACAGACAATGGTTCCTAGACCTACCGTTGCCATGGCTGC ThrGlyLeuAspPheAsnGluMetValLeuLeuGlnMetGluAspLysAlaTrpLeuValHisArgGlnTrpPheLeuAspLeuProLeuProTrpLeu>                   1610      1620      1630      1640      1650      1660      1670      1680      1690 1700 CCGGAGCAGACACACAAGGATCAAATTGGATACAGAAAGAAACACTGGTCACCTTCAAAAATCCCCATGCGAAAAAACAGGATGTTGTTGTCTTAGGATC ProGlyAlaAspThrGlnGlySerAsnTrpIleGlnLysGluThrLeuValThrPheLysAsnProHisAlaLysLysGlnAspValValValLeuGlySer>                   1710      1720      1730      1740      1750      1760      1770      1780      1790 1800 CCAAGAGGGGGCCATGCATACAGCACTCACAGGGGCTACGGAAATCCAGATGTCATCAGGAAACCTGCTGTTCACAGGACATCTCAAGTGCAGGCTGAGA GlnGluGlyAlaMetHisThrAlaLeuThrGlyAlaThrGluIleGlnMetSerSerGlyAsnLeuLeuPheThrGlyHisLeuLysCysArgLeuArg>                   1810      1820      1830      1840      1850      1860      1870      1880      1890 1900 ATGGACAAATTACAACTTAAAGGGATGTCATACTCCATGTGCACAGGAAAGTTTAAAATTGTGAAGGAAATAGCAGAAACACAACATGGAACAATAGTCA MetAspLysLeuGlnLeuLysGlyMetSerTyrSerMetCysThrGlyLysPheLysIleValLysGluIleAlaGluThrGlnHisGlyThrIleVal>                   1910      1920      1930      1940      1950      1960      1970      1980      1990 2000 TTAGAGTACAATATGAAGGAGACGGCTCTCCATGCAAGATCCCCTTTGAGATAATGGATCTGGAAAAAAGACATGTTTTGGGCCGCCTGATCACAGTCAA IleArgValGlnTyrGluGlyAspGlySerProCysLysIleProPheGluIleMetAspLeuGluLysArgHisValLeuGlyArgLeuIleThrValAsn>                   2010      2020      2030      2040      2050      2060      2070      2080      2090 2100 CCCAATTGTAACAGAAAAGGACAGTCCAGTCAACATAGAAGCAGAACCTCCATTCGGAGACAGCTACATCATCATAGGAGTGGAACCAGGACAATTGAAG ProIleValThrGluLysAspSerProValAsnIleGluAlaGluProProPheGlyAspSerTyrIleIleIleGlyValGluProGlyGlnLeuLys>                   2110      2120      2130      2140      2150      2160      2170      2180      2190 2200 CTGGACTGGTTCAAGAAAGGAAGTTCCATCGGCCAAATGTTTGAGACAACAATGAGGGGAGCGAAAAGAATGGCCATTTTGGGTGACACAGCCTGGGATT LeuAspTrpPheLysLysGlySerSerIleGlyGlnMetPheGluThrThrMetArgGlyAlaLysArgMetAlaIleLeuGlyAspThrAlaTrpAsp>                   2210      2220      2230      2240      2250      2260      2270      2280      2290 2300 TTGGATCTCTGGGAGGAGTGTTCACATCAATAGGAAAGGCTCTCCACCAGGTTTTTGGAGCAATCTACGGGGCTGCTTTCAGTGGGGTCTCATGGACTAT PheGlySerLeuGlyGlyValPheThrSerIleGlyLysAlaLeuHisGlnValPheGlyAlaIleTyrGlyAlaAlaPheSerGlyValSerTrpThrMet>                   2310      2320      2330      2340      2350      2360      2370      2380      2390 2400 GAAGATCCTCATAGGAGTTATCATCACATGGATAGGAATGAACTCACGTAGCACTAGTCTGAGCGTGTCACTGGTGTTAGTGGGAATCGTGACACTTTAC LysIleLeuIleGlyValIleIleThrTrpIleGlyMetAsnSerArgSerThrSerLeuSerValSerLeuValLeuValGlyIleValThrLeuTyr>                   2410      2420      2430      2440      2450      2460      2470      2480      2490 2500 TTGGGAGTTATGGTGCAGGCCGATAGTGGTTGCGTTGTGAGCTGGAAGAACAAAGAACTAAAATGTGGCAGTGGAATATTCGTCACAGATAACGTGCATA LeuGlyValMetValGlnAlaAspSerGlyCysValValSerTrpLysAsnLysGluLeuLysCysGlySerGlyIlePheValThrAspAsnValHis>                   2510      2520      2530      2540      2550      2560      2570      2580      2590 2600 CATGGACAGAACAATACAAGTTCCAACCAGAATCCCCTTCAAAACTGGCCTCAGCCATCCAGAAAGCGCATGAAGAGGGCATCTGTGGAATCCGCTCAGT ThrTrpThrGluGlnTyrLysPheGlnProGluSerProSerLysLeuAlaSerAlaIleGlnLysAlaHisGluGluGlyIleCysGlyIleArgSerVal>                   2610      2620      2630      2640      2650      2660      2670      2680      2690 2700 AACAAGACTGGAAAATCTTATGTGGAAACAGATAACATCAGAATTGAATCATATTCTATCAGAAAATGAAGTGAAACTGACCATCATGACAGGAGACATC ThrArgLeuGluAsnLeuMetTrpLysGlnIleThrSerGluLeuAsnHisIleLeuSerGluAsnGluValLysLeuThrIleMetThrGlyAspIle>                   2710      2720      2730      2740      2750      2760      2770      2780      2790 2800 AAAGGAATCATGCAGGTAGGAAAACGATCTTTGCGGCCTCAACCCACTGAGTTGAGGTATTCATGGAAAACATGGGGTAAAGCGAAAATGCTCTCCACAG LysGlyIleMetGlnValGlyLysArgSerLeuArgProGlnProThrGluLeuArgTyrSerTrpLysThrTrpGlyLysAlaLysMetLeuSerThr>                   2810      2820      2830      2840      2850      2860      2870      2880      2890 2900 AACTCCACAATCAGACCTTCCTCATTGATGGTCCCGAAACAGCAGAATGCCCCAACACAAACAGAGCTTGGAATTCACTGGAAGTTGAGGACTACGGCTT GluLeuHisAsnGlnThrPheLeuIleAspGlyProGluThrAlaGluCysProAsnThrAsnArgAlaTrpAsnSerLeuGluValGluAspTyrGlyPhe>                   2910      2920      2930      2940      2950      2960      2970      2980      2990 3000 TGGAGTATTCACTACCAATATATGGCTAAGATTGAGAGAAAAGCAGGATGTATTTTGTGACTCAAAACTCATGTCAGCGGCCATAAAGGACAACAGAGCC GlyValPheThrThrAsnIleTrpLeuArgLeuArgGluLysGlnAspValPheCysAspSerLysLeuMetSerAlaAlaIleLysAspAsnArgAla>                   3010      3020      3030      3040      3050      3060      3070      3080      3090 3100 GTCCATGCTGATATGGGTTATTGGATAGAAAGCGCACTCAATGATACATGGAAGATAGAGAAAGCTTCTTTCATTGAAGTCAAAAGTTGCCACTGGCCAA ValHisAlaAspMetGlyTyrTrpIleGluSerAlaLeuAsnAspThrTrpLysIleGluLysAlaSerPheIleGluValLysSerCysHisTrpPro>                   3110      3120      3130      3140      3150      3160      3170      3180      3190 3200 AGTCACACACCCTATGGAGTAATGGAGTGCTAGAAAGCGAGATGGTCATTCCAAAGAATTTCGCTGGACCAGTGTCACAACATAATAACAGACCAGGCTA LysSerHisThrLeuTrpSerAsnGlyValLeuGluSerGluMetValIleProLysAsnPheAlaGlyProValSerGlnHisAsnAsnArgProGlyTyr>                   3210      3220      3230      3240      3250      3260      3270      3280      3290 3300 TTACACACAAACAGCAGGACCTTGGCATCTAGGCAAGCTTGAGATGGACTTTGATTTCTGCGAAGGGACTACAGTGGTGGTAACCGAGAACTGTGGAAAC TyrThrGlnThrAlaGlyProTrpHisLeuGlyLysLeuGluMetAspPheAspPheCysGluGlyThrThrValValValThrGluAsnCysGlyAsn>                   3310      3320      3330      3340      3350      3360      3370      3380      3390 3400 AGAGGGCCCTCTTTAAGAACAACCACTGCCTCAGGAAAACTCATAACGGAATGGTGTTGTCGATCTTGCACACTACCACCACTAAGATACAGAGGTGAGG ArgGlyProSerLeuArgThrThrThrAlaSerGlyLysLeuIleThrGluTrpCysCysArgSerCysThrLeuProProLeuArgTyrArgGlyGlu>                   3410      3420      3430      3440      3450      3460      3470      3480      3490 3500 ATGGATGTTGGTACGGGATGGAAATCAGACCATTGAAAGAGAAAGAAGAAAATCTGGTCAGTTCTCTGGTTACAGCCGGACATGGGCAGATTGACAATTT AspGlyCysTrpTyrGlyMetGluIleArgProLeuLysGluLysGluGluAsnLeuValSerSerLeuValThrAlaGlyHisGlyGlnIleAspAsnPhe>                   3510      3520      3530      3540      3550      3560      3570      3580      3590 3600 CTCATTAGGAATCTTGGGAATGGCACTGTTCCTTGAAGAAATGCTCAGGACTCGAGTAGGAACAAAACATGCAATATTACTCGTCGCAGTTTCTTTCGTG SerLeuGlyIleLeuGlyMetAlaLeuPheLeuGluGluMetLeuArgThrArgValGlyThrLysHisAlaIleLeuLeuValAlaValSerPheVal>                   3610      3620      3630      3640      3650      3660      3670      3680      3690 3700 ACGCTAATCACAGGGAACATGTCTTTTAGAGACCTGGGAAGAGTGATGGTTATGGTGGGTGCCACCATGACAGATGACATAGGCATGGGTGTGACTTATC ThrLeuIleThrGlyAsnMetSerPheArgAspLeuGlyArgValMetValMetValGlyAlaThrMetThrAspAspIleGlyMetGlyValThrTyr>                   3710      3720      3730      3740      3750      3760      3770      3780      3790 3800 TCGCTCTACTAGCAGCTTTTAGAGTCAGACCAACCTTTGCAGCTGGACTGCTCTTGAGAAAACTGACCTCCAAGGAATTAATGATGACTACCATAGGAAT LeuAlaLeuLeuAlaAlaPheArgValArgProThrPheAlaAlaGlyLeuLeuLeuArgLysLeuThrSerLysGluLeuMetMetThrThrIleGlyIle>                   3810      3820      3830      3840      3850      3860      3870      3880      3890 3900 CGTTCTTCTCTCCCAGAGTAGCATACCAGAGACCATTCTTGAACTGACCGACGCGTTAGCTCTAGGCATGATGGTCCTCAAGATGGTGAGAAACATGGAA ValLeuLeuSerGlnSerSerIleProGluThrIleLeuGluLeuThrAspAlaLeuAlaLeuGlyMetMetValLeuLysMetValArgAsnMetGlu>                   3910      3920      3930      3940      3950      3960      3970      3980      3990 4000 AAATATCAGCTGGCAGTGACCATCATGGCTATTTTGTGCGTCCCAAATGCTGTGATATTACAGAACGCATGGAAAGTGAGTTGCACAATATTGGCAGTGG LysTyrGlnLeuAlaValThrIleMetAlaIleLeuCysValProAsnAlaValIleLeuGlnAsnAlaTrpLysValSerCysThrIleLeuAlaVal>                   4010      4020      4030      4040      4050      4060      4070      4080      4090 4100 TGTCTGTTTCCCCCCTGCTCTTAACATCCTCACAACAGAAAGCGGACTGGATACCATTAGCGTTGACGATCAAAGGTCTTAATCCAACAGCCATTTTTCT ValSerValSerProLeuLeuLeuThrSerSerGlnGlnLysAlaAspTrpIleProLeuAlaLeuThrIleLysGlyLeuAsnProThrAlaIlePheLeu>                   4110      4120      4130      4140      4150      4160      4170      4180      4190 4200 AACAACCCTCTCAAGAACCAACAAGAAAAGGAGCTGGCCTTTAAATGAGGCCATCATGGCGGTTGGGATGGTGAGTATCTTGGCCAGCTCTCTCTTAAAG ThrThrLeuSerArgThrAsnLysLysArgSerTrpProLeuAsnGluAlaIleMetAlaValGlyMetValSerIleLeuAlaSerSerLeuLeuLys>                   4210      4220      4230      4240      4250      4260      4270      4280      4290 4300 AATGACATCCCCATGACAGGACCATTAGTGGCTGGAGGGCTCCTTACTGTGTGCTACGTGCTAACTGGGCGGTCAGCCGATCTGGAATTAGAGAGAGCTA AsnAspIleProMetThrGlyProLeuValAlaGlyGlyLeuLeuThrValCysTyrValLeuThrGlyArgSerAlaAspLeuGluLeuGluArgAla>                   4310      4320      4330      4340      4350      4360      4370      4380      4390 4400 CCGATGTCAAATGGGATGACCAGGCAGAGATATCAGGTAGCAGTCCAATCCTGTCAATAACAATATCAGAAGATGGCAGCATGTCAATAAAGAATGAAGA ThrAspValLysTrpAspAspGlnAlaGluIleSerGlySerSerProIleLeuSerIleThrIleSerGluAspGlySerMetSerIleLysAsnGluGlu>                   4410      4420      4430      4440      4450      4460      4470      4480      4490 4500 GGAAGAGCAAACACTGACTATACTCATTAGAACAGGATTGCTTGTGATCTCAGGACTCTTTCCGGTATCAATACCAATTACAGCAGCAGCATGGTATCTG GluGluGlnThrLeuThrIleLeuIleArgThrGlyLeuLeuValIleSerGlyLeuPheProValSerIleProIleThrAlaAlaAlaTrpTyrLeu>                   4510      4520      4530      4540      4550      4560      4570      4580      4590 4600 TGGGAAGTAAAGAAACAACGGGCTGGAGTGCTGTGGGATGTCCCCTCACCACCACCCGTGGGAAAAGCTGAATTGGAAGATGGAGCCTACAGAATCAAGC TrpGluValLysLysGlnArgAlaGlyValLeuTrpAspValProSerProProProValGlyLysAlaGluLeuGluAspGlyAlaTyrArgIleLys>                   4610      4620      4630      4640      4650      4660      4670      4680      4690 4700 AAAAAGGAATCCTTGGATATTCCCAGATCGGAGCTGGAGTTTACAAAGAAGGAACATTTCACACAATGTGGCACGTCACACGTGGCGCTGTCCTAATGCA GlnLysGlyIleLeuGlyTyrSerGlnIleGlyAlaGlyValTyrLysGluGlyThrPheHisThrMetTrpHisValThrArgGlyAlaValLeuMetHis>                   4710      4720      4730      4740      4750      4760      4770      4780      4790 4800 TAAGGGGAAGAGGATTGAACCATCATGGGCGGACGTCAAGAAAGACTTAATATCATATGGAGGAGGTTGGAAGCTAGAAGGAGAATGGAAAGAAGGAGAA LysGlyLysArgIleGluProSerTrpAlaAspValLysLysAspLeuIleSerTyrGlyGlyGlyTrpLysLeuGluGlyGluTrpLysGluGlyGlu>                   4810      4820      4830      4840      4850      4860      4870      4880      4890 4900 GAAGTCCAGGTCTTGGCATTGGAGCCAGGGAAAAATCCAAGAGCCGTCCAAACAAAGCCTGGCCTTTTTAGAACCAACACTGGAACCATAGGTGCCGTAT GluValGlnValLeuAlaLeuGluProGlyLysAsnProArgAlaValGlnThrLysProGlyLeuPheArgThrAsnThrGlyThrIleGlyAlaVal>                   4910      4920      4930      4940      4950      4960      4970      4980      4990 5000 CTCTGGACTTTTCCCCTGGGACGTCAGGATCTCCAATCGTCGACAAAAAAGGAAAAGTTGTAGGTCTCTATGGCAATGGTGTCGTTACAAGGAGTGGAGC SerLeuAspPheSerProGlyThrSerGlySerProIleValAspLysLysGlyLysValValGlyLeuTyrGlyAsnGlyValValThrArgSerGlyAla>                   5010      5020      5030      5040      5050      5060      5070      5080      5090 5100 ATATGTGAGTGCCATAGCTCAGACTGAAAAAAGCATTGAAGACAATCCAGAGATTGAAGATGACATCTTTCGAAAGAGAAGATTGACTATCATGGATCTC TyrValSerAlaIleAlaGlnThrGluLysSerIleGluAspAsnProGluIleGluAspAspIlePheArgLysArgArgLeuThrIleMetAspLeu>                   5110      5120      5130      5140      5150      5160      5170      5180      5190 5200 CACCCAGGAGCAGGAAAGACAAAGAGATACCTCCCGGCCATAGTCAGAGAGGCCATAAAAAGAGGCTTGAGAACACTAATCCTAGCCCCCACTAGAGTCG HisProGlyAlaGlyLysThrLysArgTyrLeuProAlaIleValArgGluAlaIleLysArgGlyLeuArgThrLeuIleLeuAlaProThrArgVal>                   5210      5220      5230      5240      5250      5260      5270      5280      5290 5300 TGGCAGCTGAAATGGAGGAAGCCCTTAGAGGACTTCCAATAAGATACCAAACTCCAGCTATCAGGGCTGAGCACACCGGGCGGGAGATTGTAGACTTAAT ValAlaAlaGluMetGluGluAlaLeuArgGlyLeuProIleArgTyrGlnThrProAlaIleArgAlaGluHisThrGlyArgGluIleValAspLeuMet>                   5310      5320      5330      5340      5350      5360      5370      5380      5390 5400 GTGTCATGCCACATTTACCATGAGGCTGCTATCACCAATCAGGGTGCCAAATTACAACCTGATCATCATGGACGAAGCCCATTTTACAGATCCAGCAAGC CysHisAlaThrPheThrMetArgLeuLeuSerProIleArgValProAsnTyrAsnLeuIleIleMetAspGluAlaHisPheThrAspProAlaSer>                   5410      5420      5430      5440      5450      5460      5470      5480      5490 5500 ATAGCAGCTAGGGGATACATCTCAACTCGAGTGGAGATGGGGGAGGCAGCTGGAATTTTTATGACAGCCACTCCTCCGGGTAGTAGAGATCCATTTCCTC IleAlaAlaArgGlyTyrIleSerThrArgValGluMetGlyGluAlaAlaGlyIlePheMetThrAlaThrProProGlySerArgAspProPhePro>                   5510      5520      5530      5540      5550      5560      5570      5580      5590 5600 AGAGCAATGCACCAATTATGGACGAAGAAAGAGAAATTCCGGAACGTTCATGGAACTCTGGGCACGAGTGGGTCACGGATTTTAAAGGAAAGACTGTCTG GlnSerAsnAlaProIleMetAspGluGluArgGluIleProGluArgSerTrpAsnSerGlyHisGluTrpValThrAspPheLysGlyLysThrValTrp>                   5610      5620      5630      5640      5650      5660      5670      5680      5690 5700 GTTTGTTCCAAGCATAAAAACCGGAAATGACATAGCAGCCTGCCTGAGAAAGAATGGAAAGAGGGTGATACAACTCAGTAGGAAGACCTTTGATTCTGAA PheValProSerIleLysThrGlyAsnAspIleAlaAlaCysLeuArgLysAsnGlyLysArgValIleGlnLeuSerArgLysThrPheAspSerGlu>                   5710      5720      5730      5740      5750      5760      5770      5780      5790 5800 TATGTCAAGACTAGAACCAATGACTGGGATTTCGTGGTTACAACTGACATCTCGGAAATGGGCGCCAACTTTAAAGCTGAGAGGGTCATAGACCCCAGAC TyrValLysThrArgThrAshAspTrpAspPheValValThrThrAspIleSerGluMetGlyAlaAsnPheLysAlaGluArgValIleAspProArg>                   5810      5820      5830      5840      5850      5860      5870      5880      5890 5900 GCTGCATGAAACCAGTTATATTGACAGACGGCGAAGAGCGGGTGATTCTGGCAGGACCCATGCCAGTGACCCACTCTAGTGCAGCACAAAGAAGAGGGAG ArgCysMetLysProValIleLeuThrAspGlyGluGluArgValIleLeuAlaGlyProMetProValThrHisSerSerAlaAlaGlnArgArgGlyArg>                   5910      5920      5930      5940      5950      5960      5970      5980      5990 6000 AATAGGAAGGAATCCAAGGAATGAAAATGATCAATATATATATATGGGGGAACCACTGGAAAATGATGAAGACTGTGCGCACTGGAAGGAAGCTAAGATG IleGlyArgAsnProArgAsnGluAsnAspGlnTyrIleTyrMetGlyGluProLeuGluAsnAspGluAspCysAlaHisTrpLysGluAlaLysMet>                   6010      6020      6030      6040      6050      6060      6070      6080      6090 6100 CTCCTAGATAATATCAACACACCTGAAGGAATCATTCCCAGCTTGTTCGAGCCAGAGCGTGAAAAGGTGGATGCCATTGACGGTGAATATCGCTTGAGAG LeuLeuAspAsnIleAsnThrProGluGlyIleIleProSerLeuPheGluProGluArgGluLysValAspAlaIleAspGlyGluTyrArgLeuArg>                   6110      6120      6130      6140      6150      6160      6170      6180      6190 6200 GAGAAGCACGGAAAACTTTTGTGGACCTAATGAGAAGAGGAGACCTACCAGTCTGGTTGGCTTATAAAGTGGCAGCTGAAGGTATCAACTACGCAGACAG GlyGluAlaArgLysThrPheValAspLeuMetArgArgGlyAspLeuProValTrpLeuAlaTyrLysValAlaAlaGluGlyIleAsnTyrAlaAspArg>                   6210      6220      6230      6240      6250      6260      6270      6280      6290 6300 AAGATGGTGTTTTGACGGAACCAGAAACAATCAAATCTTGGAAGAAAATGTGGAAGTGGAAATCTGGACAAAGGAAGGGGAAAGGAAAAAATTGAAACCT ArgTrpCysPheAspGlyThrArgAsnAsnGlnIleLeuGluGluAsnValGluValGluIleTrpThrLysGluGlyGluArgLysLysLeuLysPro>                   6310      6320      6330      6340      6350      6360      6370      6380      6390 6400 AGATGGTTAGATGCTAGGATCTACTCCGACCCACTGGCGCTAAAAGAGTTCAAGGAATTTGCAGCCGGAAGAAAGTCCCTAACCCTGAACCTAATTACAG ArgTrpLeuAspAlaArgIleTyrSerAspProLeuAlaLeuLysGluPheLysGluPheAlaAlaGlyArgLysSerLeuThrLeuAsnLeuIleThr>                   6410      6420      6430      6440      6450      6460      6470      6480      6490 6500 AGATGGGCAGACTCCCAACTTTTATGACTCAGAAGGCCAGAGATGCACTAGACAACTTGGCGGTGCTGCACACGGCTGAAGCGGGTGGAAAGGCATACAA GluMetGlyArgLeuProThrPheMetThrGlnLysAlaArgAspAlaLeuAspAsnLeuAlaValLeuHisThrAlaGluAlaGlyGlyLysAlaTyrAsn>                   6510      6520      6530      6540      6550      6560      6570      6580      6590 6600 TCATGCTCTCAGTGAATTACCGGAGACCCTGGAGACATTGCTTTTGCTGACACTGTTGGCCACAGTCACGGGAGGAATCTTCCTATTCCTGATGAGCGGA HisAlaLeuSerGluLeuProGluThrLeuGluThrLeuLeuLeuLeuThrLeuLeuAlaThrValThrGlyGlyIlePheLeuPheLeuMetSerGly>                   6610      6620      6630      6640      6650      6660      6670      6680      6690 6700 AGGGGTATGGGGAAGATGACCCTGGGAATGTGCTGCATAATCACGGCCAGCATCCTCTTATGGTATGCACAAATACAGCCACATTGGATAGCAGCCTCAA ArgGlyMetGlyLysMetThrLeuGlyMetCysCysIleIleThrAlaSerIleLeuLeuTrpTyrAlaGlnIleGlnProHisTrpIleAlaAlaSer>                   6710      6720      6730      6740      6750      6760      6770      6780      6790 6800 TAATATTGGAGTTCTTTCTCATAGTCTTGCTCATTCCAGAACCAGAAAAGCAGAGGACACCTCAGGATAATCAATTGACTTATGTCATCATAGCCATCCT IleIleLeuGluPhePheLeuIleValLeuLeuIleProGluProGluLysGlnArgThrProGlnAspAsnGlnLeuThrTyrValIleIleAlaIleLeu>                   6810      6820      6830      6840      6850      6860      6870      6880      6890 6900 CACAGTGGTGGCCGCAACCATGGCAAACGAAATGGGTTTTCTGGAAAAAACAAAGAAAGACCTCGGACTGGGAAACATTGCAACTCAGCAACCTGAGAGC ThrValValAlaAlaThrMetAlaAsnGluMetGlyPheLeuGluLysThrLysLysAspLeuGlyLeuGlyAsnIleAlaThrGlnGlnProGluSer>                   6910      6920      6930      6940      6950      6960      6970      6980      6990 7000 AACATTCTGGACATAGATCTACGTCCTGCATCAGCATGGACGTTGTATGCCGTGGCTACAACATTTATCACACCAATGTTGAGACATAGCATTGAAAATT AsnIleLeuAspIleAspLeuArgProAlaSerAlaTrpThrLeuTyrAlaValAlaThrThrPheIleThrProMetLeuArgHisSerIleGluAsn>                   7010      7020      7030      7040      7050      7060      7070      7080      7090 7100 CCTCAGTAAATGTGTCCCTAACAGCCATAGCTAACCAAGCCACAGTGCTAATGGGTCTCGGAAAAGGATGGCCATTGTCAAAGATGGACATTGGAGTTCC SerSerValAsnValSerLeuThrAlaIleAlaAsnGlnAlaThrValLeuMetGlyLeuGlyLysGlyTrpProLeuSerLysMetAspIleGlyValPro>                   7110      7120      7130      7140      7150      7160      7170      7180      7190 7200 CCTCCTTGCTATTGGGTGTTACTCACAAGTCAACCCTATAACCCTCACAGCGGCTCTTCTTTTATTGGTAGCACATTATGCCATCATAGGACCGGGACTT LeuLeuAlaIleGlyCysTyrSerGlnValAsnProIleThrLeuThrAlaAlaLeuLeuLeuLeuValAlaHisTyrAlaIleIleGlyProGlyLeu>                   7210      7220      7230      7240      7250      7260      7270      7280      7290 7300 CAAGCCAAAGCAACTAGAGAAGCTCAGAAAAGAGCAGCAGCGGGCATCATGAAAAACCCAACTGTGGATGGAATAACAGTGATAGATCTAGATCCAATAC GlnAlaLysAlaThrArgGluAlaGlnLysArgAlaAlaAlaGlyIleMetLysAsnProThrValAspGlyIleThrValIleAspLeuAspProIle>                   7310      7320      7330      7340      7350      7360      7370      7380      7390 7400 CCTATGATCCAAAGTTTGAAAAGCAGTTGGGACAAGTAATGCTCCTAGTCCTCTGCGTGACCCAAGTGCTGATGATGAGGACTACGTGGGCTTTGTGTGA ProTyrAspProLysPheGluLysGlnLeuGlyGlnValMetLeuLeuValLeuCysValThrGlnValLeuMetMetArgThrThrTrpAlaLeuCysGlu>                   7410      7420      7430      7440      7450      7460      7470      7480      7490 7500 AGCCTTAACTCTAGCAACTGGACCCGTGTCCACATTGTGGGAAGGAAATCCAGGGAGATTCTGGAACACAACCATTGCAGTGTCAATGGCAAACATCTTT AlaLeuThrLeuAlaThrGlyProValSerThrLeuTrpGluGlyAsnProGlyArgPheTrpAsnThrThrIleAlaValSerMetAlaAsnIlePhe>                   7510      7520      7530      7540      7550      7560      7570      7580      7590 7600 AGAGGGAGTTACCTGGCTGGAGCTGGACTTCTCTTTTCTATCATGAAGAACACAACCAGCACGAGAAGAGGAACTGGCAATATAGGAGAAACGTTAGGAG ArgGlySerTyrLeuAlaGlyAlaGlyLeuLeuPheSerIleMetLysAsnThrThrSerThrArgArgGlyThrGlyAsnIleGlyGluThrLeuGly>                   7610      7620      7630      7640      7650      7660      7670      7680      7690 7700 AGAAATGGAAAAGCAGACTGAACGCATTGGGGAAAAGTGAATTCCAGATCTACAAAAAAAGTGGAATTCAAGAAGTGGACAGAACCTTAGCAAAAGAAGG GluLysTrpLysSerArgLeuAsnAlaLeuGlyLysSerGluPheGlnIleTyrLysLysSerGlyIleGlnGluValAspArgThrLeuAlaLysGluGly>                   7710      7720      7730      7740      7750      7760      7770      7780      7790 7800 CATTAAAAGAGGAGAAACGGATCATCACGCTGTGTCGCGAGGCTCAGCAAAACTGAGATGGTTCGTTGAAAGGAATTTGGTCACACCAGAAGGGAAAGTA IleLysArgGlyGluThrAspHisHisAlaValSerArgGlySerAlaLysLeuArgTrpPheValGluArgAsnLeuValThrProGluGlyLysVal>                   7810      7820      7830      7840      7850      7860      7870      7880      7890 7900 GTGGACCTTGGTTGTGGCAGAGGGGGCTGGTCATACTATTGTGGAGGATTAAAGAATGTAAGAGAAGTTAAAGGCTTAACAAAAGGAGGACCAGGACACG ValAspLeuGlyCysGlyArgGlyGlyTrpSerTyrTyrCysGlyGlyLeuLysAsnValArgGluValLysGlyLeuThrLysGlyGlyProGlyHis>                   7910      7920      7930      7940      7950      7960      7970      7980      7990 8000 AAGAACCTATCCCTATGTCAACATATGGGTGGAATCTAGTACGCTTACAGAGCGGAGTTGATGTTTTTTTTGTTCCACCAGAGAAGTGTGACACATTGTT GluGluProIleProMetSerThrTyrGlyTrpAsnLeuValArgLeuGlnSerGlyValAspValPhePheValProProGluLysCysAspThrLeuLeu>                   8010      8020      8030      8040      8050      8060      8070      8080      8090 8100 GTGTGACATAGGGGAATCATCACCAAATCCCACGGTAGAAGCGGGACGAACACTCAGAGTCCTCAACCTAGTGGAAAATTGGCTGAACAATAACACCCAA CysAspIleGlyGluSerSerProAsnProThrValGluAlaGlyArgThrLeuArgValLeuAsnLeuValGluAsnTrpLeuAsnAsnAsnThrGln>                   8110      8120      8130      8140      8150      8160      8170      8180      8190 8200 TTTTGCGTAAAGGTTCTTAACCCGTACATGCCCTCAGTCATTGAAAGAATGGAAACCTTACAACGGAAATACGGAGGAGCCTTGGTGAGAAATCCACTCT PheCysValLysValLeuAsnProTyrMetProSerValIleGluArgMetGluThrLeuGlnArgLysTyrGlyGlyAlaLeuValArgAsnProLeu>                   8210      8220      8230      8240      8250      8260      8270      8280      8290 8300 CACGGAATTCCACACATGAGATGTACTGGGTGTCCAATGCTTCCGGGAACATAGTGTCATCAGTGAACATGATTTCAAGAATGCTGATCAACAGATTCAC SerArgAsnSerThrHisGluMetTyrTrpValSerAsnAlaSerGlyAsnIleValSerSerValAsnMetIleSerArgMetLeuIleAsnArgPheThr>                   8310      8320      8330      8340      8350      8360      8370      8380      8390 8400 TATGAGACACAAGAAGGCCACCTATGAGCCAGATGTCGACCTCGGAAGCGGAACCCCCAATATTGGAATTGAAAGTGAGACACCGAACCTAGACATAATT MetArgHisLysLysAlaThrTyrGluProAspValAspLeuGlySerGlyThrArgAsnIleGlyIleGluSerGluThrProAsnLeuAspIleIle>                   8410      8420      8430      8440      8450      8460      8470      8480      8490 8500 GGGAAAAGAATAGAAAAAATAAAACAAGAGCATGAAACGTCATGGCACTATGATCAAGACCACCCATACAAAACATGGGCTTACCATGGCAGCTATGAAA GlyLysArgIleGluLysIleLysGlnGluHisGluThrSerTrpHisTyrAspGlnAspHisProTyrLysThrTrpAlaTyrHisGlySerTyrGlu>                   8510      8520      8530      8540      8550      8560      8570      8580      8590 8600 CAAAACAGACTGGATCAGCATCATCCATGGTGAACGGAGTAGTCAGATTGCTGACAAAACCCTGGGACGTTGTTCCAATGGTGACACAGATGGCAATGAC ThrLysGlnThrGlySerAlaSerSerMetValAsnGlyValValArgLeuLeuThrLysProTrpAspValValProMetValThrGlnMetAlaMetThr>                   8610      8620      8630      8640      8650      8660      8670      8680      8690 8700 AGACACAACTCCTTTTGGACAACAGCGCGTCTTCAAAGAGAAGGTGGATACGAGAACCCAAGAACCAAAAGAAGGCACAAAAAAACTAATGAAAATCACG AspThrThrProPheGlyGlnGlnArgValPheLysGluLysValAspThrArgThrGlnGluProLysGluGlyThrLysLysLeuMetLysIleThr>                   8710      8720      8730      8740      8750      8760      8770      8780      8790 8800 GCAGAGTGGCTCTGGAAAGAACTAGGAAAGAAAAAGACACCTAGAATGTGTACCAGAGAAGAATTCACAAAAAAGGTGAGAAGCAATGCAGCCTTGGGGG AlaGluTrpLeuTrpLysGluLeuGlyLysLysLysThrProArgMetCysThrArgGluGluPheThrLysLysValArgSerAsnAlaAlaLeuGly>                   8810      8820      8830      8840      8850      8860      8870      8880      8890 8900 CCATATTCACCGATGAGAACAAGTGGAAATCGGCGCGTGAAGCCGTTGAAGATAGTAGGTTTTGGGAGCTGGTTGACAAGGAAAGGAACCTCCATCTTGA AlaIlePheThrAspGluAsnLysTrpLysSerAlaArgGluAlaValGluAspSerArgPheTrpGluLeuValAspLysGluArgAsnLeuHisLeuGlu>                   8910      8920      8930      8940      8950      8960      8970      8980      8990 9000 AGGGAAATGTGAAACATGTGTATACAACATGATGGGGAAAAGAGAGAAAAAACTAGGAGAGTTTGGTAAAGCAAAAGGCAGCAGAGCCATATGGTACATG GlyLysCysGluThrCysValTyrAsnMetMetGlyLysArgGluLysLysLeuGlyGluPheGlyLysAlaLysGlySerArgAlaIleTrpTyrMet>                   9010      9020      9030      9040      9050      9060      9070      9080      9090 9100 TGGCTCGGAGCACGCTTCTTAGAGTTTGAAGCCCTAGGATTTTTGAATGAAGACCATTGGTTCTCCAGAGAGAACTCCCTGAGTGGAGTGGAAGGAGAAG TrpLeuGlyAlaArgPheLeuGluPheGluAlaLeuGlyPheLeuAsnGluAspHisTrpPheSerArgGluAsnSerLeuSerGlyValGluGlyGlu>                   9110      9120      9130      9140      9150      9160      9170      9180      9190 9200 GGCTGCATAAGCTAGGTTACATCTTAAGAGAGGTGAGCAAGAAAGAAGGAGGAGCAATGTATGCCGATGACACCGCAGGCTGGGACACAAGAATCACAAT GlyLeuHisLysLeuGlyTyrIleLeuArgGluValSerLysLysGluGlyGlyAlaMetTyrAlaAspAspThrAlaGlyTrpAspThrArgIleThrIle>                   9210      9220      9230      9240      9250      9260      9270      9280      9290 9300 AGAGGATTTGAAAAATGAAGAAATGATAACGAACCACATGGCAGGAGAACACAAGAAACTTGCCGAGGCCATTTTTAAATTGACGTACCAAAACAAGGTG GluAspLeuLysAsnGluGluMetIleThrAsnHisMetAlaGlyGluHisLysLysLeuAlaGluAlaIlePheLysLeuThrTyrGlnAsnLysVal>                   9310      9320      9330      9340      9350      9360      9370      9380      9390 9400 GTGCGTGTGCAAAGACCAACACCAAGAGGCACAGTAATGGACATCATATCGAGAAGAGACCAAAGGGGTAGTGGACAAGTTGGCACCTATGGCCTCAACA ValArgValGlnArgProThrProArgGlyThrValMetAspIleIleSerArgArgAspGlnArgGlySerGlyGlnValGlyThrTyrGlyLeuAsn>                   9410      9420      9430      9440      9450      9460      9470      9480      9490 9500 CTTTCACCAACATGGAAGCACAACTAATTAGGCAAATGGAGGGGGAAGGAATCTTCAAAAGCATCCAGCACTTGACAGCCTCAGAAGAAATCGCTGTGCA ThrPheThrAsnMetGluAlaGlnLeuIleArgGlnMetGluGlyGluGlyIlePheLysSerIleGlnHisLeuThrAlaSerGluGluIleAlaValGln>                   9510      9520      9530      9540      9550      9560      9570      9580      9590 9600 AGATTGGCTAGTAAGAGTAGGGCGTGAAAGGTTGTCAAGAATGGCCATCAGTGGAGATGATTGTGTTGTGAAACCTTTAGATGATAGATTTGCAAGAGCT AspTrpLeuValArgValGlyArgGluArgLeuSerArgMetAlaIleSerGlyAspAspCysValValLysProLeuAspAspArgPheAlaArgAla>                   9610      9620      9630      9640      9650      9660      9670      9680      9690 9700 CTAACAGCTCTAAATGACATGGGAAAGGTTAGGAAGGACATACAGCAATGGGAGCCCTCAAGAGGATGGAACGACTGGACGCAGGTGCCCTTCTGTTCAC LeuThrAlaLeuAsnAspMetGlyLysValArgLysAspIleGlnGlnTrpGluProSerArgGlyTrpAsnAspTrpThrGlnValProPheCysSer>                   9710      9720      9730      9740      9750      9760      9770      9780      9790 9800 ACCATTTTCACGAGTTAATTATGAAAGATGGTCGCACACTCGTAGTTCCATGCAGAAACCAAGATGAATTGATCGGCAGAGCCCGAATTTCCCAGGGAGC HisHisPheHisGluLeuIleMetLysAspGlyArgThrLeuValValProCysArgAsnGlnAspGluLeuIleGlyArgAlaArgIleSerGlnGlyAla>                   9810      9820      9830      9840      9850      9860      9870      9880      9890 9900 TGGGTGGTCTTTACGGGAGACGGCCTGTTTGGGGAAGTCTTACGCCCAAATGTGGAGCTTGATGTACTTCCACAGACGTGATCTCAGGCTAGCGGCAAAT GlyTrpSerLeuArgGluThrAlaCysLeuGlyLysSerTyrAlaGlnMetTrpSerLeuMetTyrPheHisArgArgAspLeuArgLeuAlaAlaAsn>                   9910      9920      9930      9940      9950      9960      9970      9980      9990 10000 GCCATCTGCTCGGCAGTCCCATCACACTGGATTCCAACAAGCCGGACAACCTGGTCCATACACGCCAGCCATGAATGGATGACGACGGAAGACATGTTGA AlaIleCysSerAlaValProSerHisTrpIleProThrSerArgThrThrTrpSerIleHisAlaSerHisGluTrpMetThrThrGluAspMetLeu>                  10010     10020     10030     10040     10050     10060     10070     10080     10090 10100 CAGTTTGGAACAGAGTGTGGATCCTAGAAAATCCATGGATGGAAGACAAAACTCCAGTGGAATCATGGGAGGAAATCCCATACCTGGGAAAAAGAGAAGA ThrValTrpAsnArgValTrpIleLeuGluAsnProTrpMetGluAspLysThrProValGluSerTrpGluGluIleProTyrLeuGlyLysArgGluAsp>                  10110     10120     10130     10140     10150     10160     10170     10180     10190 10200 CCAATGGTGCGGCTCGCTGATTGGGCTGACAAGCAGAGCCACCTGGGCGAAGAATATCCAGACAGCAATAAACCAAGTCAGATCCCTCATTGGCAATGAG GlnTrpCysGlySerLeuIleGlyLeuThrSerArgAlaThrTrpAlaLysAsnIleGlnThrAlaIleAsnGlnValArgSerLeuIleGlyAsnGlu>                  10210     10220     10230     10240     10250     10260     10270     10280     10290 10300 GAATACACAGATTACATGCCATCCATGAAAAGATTCAGAAGAGAAGAGGAAGAGGCAGGAGTTTTGTGGTAGAAAAACATGAAACAAAACAGAAGTCAGG             GluTyrThrAspTyrMetProSerMetLysArqPheArgArgGluGluGluGluAlaGlyValLeuTrp***>                  10310     10320     10330     10340     10350     10360     10370     10380     10390 10400 TCGGATTAAGCCATAGTACGGGAAAAACTATGCTACCTGTGAGCCCCGTCCAAGGACGTTAAAAGAAGTCAGGCCATTTTGATGCCATAGCTTGAGCAAA                  10410     10420     10430     10440     10450     10460     10470     10480     10490 10500 CTGTGCAGCCTGTAGCTCCACCTGAGAAGGTGTAAAAAATCCGGGAGGCCACAAACCATGGAAGCTGTACGCATGGCGTAGTGGACTAGCGGTTAGAGGA                  10510     10520     10530     10540     10550     10560     10570     10580     10590 10600 GACCCCTCCCTTACAGATCGCAGCAACAATGGGGGCCCAAGGTGAGATGAAGCTGTAGTCTCACTGGAAGGACTAGAGGTTAGAGGAGACCCCCCCAAAA                  10610     10620     10630     10640     10650     10660     10670     10680     10690 10700 CAAAAAACAGCATATTGACGCTGGGAAAGACCAGAGATCCTGCTGTCTCCTCAGCATCATTCCAGGCACAGGACGCCAGAAAATGGAATGGTGCTGTTGA                  10710     10720     10730     10740     10750     10760     10770     10780     10790 10800 ATCAACAGGTTCTGGTACCGGTAGGCATCGTGGTGTCACGCTCGTCGTTTGGTATGGCTTCATTCAGCTCCGGTTCCCAACGATCAAGGCGAGTTACATG                  10810     10820     10830     10840     10850     10860     10870     10880     10890 10900 ATCCCCCATGTTGTGCAAAAAAGCGGTTAGCTCCTTCGGTCCTCCGATCGTTGTCAGAAGTAAGTTGGCCGCAGTGTTATCACTCATGGTTATGGCAGCA                  10910     10920     10930     10940     10950     10960     10970     10980     10990 11000 CTGCATAATTCTCTTACTGTCATGCCATCCGTAAGATGCTTTTCTGTGACTGGTGAGTACTCAACCAAGTCATTCTGAGAATAGTGTATGCGGCGACCGA                  11010     11020     11030     11040     11050     11060     11070     11080     11090 11100 GTTGCTCTTGCCCGGCGTCAACACGGGATAATACCGCGCCACATAGCAGAACTTTAAAAGTGCTCATCATTGGAAAACGTTCTTCGGGGCGAAAACTCTC                  11110     11120     11130     11140     11150     11160     11170     11180     11190 11200 AAGGATCTTACCGCTGTTGAGATCCAGTTCGATGTAACCCACTCGTGCACCCAACTGATCTTCAGCATCTTTTACTTTCACCAGCGTTTCTGGGTGAGCA                  11210     11220     11230     11240     11250     11260     11270     11280     11290 11300 AAAACAGGAAGGCAAAATGCCGCAAAAAAGGGAATAAGGGCGACACGGAAATGTTGAATACTCATACTCTTCCTTTTTCAATATTATTGAAGCATTTATC                  11310     11320     11330     11340     11350     11360     11370     11380     11390 11400 AGGGTTATTGTCTCATGAGCGGATACATATTTGAATGTATTTAGAAAAATAAACAAATAGGGGTTCCGCGCACATTTCCCCGAAAAGTGCCACCTGACGT                  11410     11420     11430     11440     11450     11460     11470     11480     11490 11500 CTAAGAAACCATTATTATCATGACATTAACCTATAAAAATAGGCGTATCACGAGGCCCTTTCGTCTTCAAGAATTCTCATGTTTGACAGCTTATCATCGA                  11510     11520     11530     11540     11550     11560     11570     11580     11590 11600 TAAGCTTTAATGCGGTAGTTTATCACAGTTAAATTGCTAACGCAGTCAGGCACCGTGTATGAAATCTAACAATGCGCTCATCGTCATCCTCGGCACCGTC                  11610     11620     11630     11640     11650     11660     11670     11680     11690 11700 ACCCTGGATGCTGTAGGCATAGGCTTGGTTATGCCGGTACTGCCGGGCCTCTTGCGGGATATCGTCCATTCCGACAGCATCGCCAGTCACTATGGCGTGC                  11710     11720     11730     11740     11750     11760     11770     11780     11790 11800 TGCTGGCGCTATATGCGTTGATGCAATTTCTATGCGCACCCGTTCTCGGAGCACTGTCCGACCGCTTTGGCCGCCGCCCAGTCCTGCTCGCTTCGCTACT                  11810     11820     11830     11840     11850     11860     11870     11880     11890 11900 TGGAGCCACTATCGACTACGCGATCATGGCGACCACACCCGTCCTGTGGATCCTCTACGCCGGACGCATCGTGGCCGGCATCACCGGCGCCACAGGTGCG                  11910     11920     11930     11940     11950     11960     11970     11980     11990 12000 GTTGCTGGCGCCTATATCGCCGACATCACCGATGGGGAAGATCGGGCTCGCCACTTCGGGCTCATGAGCGCTTGTTTCGGCGTGGGTATGGTGGCAGGCC                  12010     12020     12030     12040     12050     12060     12070     12080     12090 12100 CCGTGGCCGGGGGACTGTTGGGCGCCATCTCCTTGCATGCACCATTCCTTGCGGCGGCGGTGCTCAACGGCCTCAACCTACTACTGGGCTGCTTCCTAAT                  12110     12120     12130     12140     12150     12160     12170     12180     12190 12200 GCAGGAGTCGCATAAGGGAGAGCGTCGACCGATGCCCTTGAGAGCCTTCAACCCAGTCAGCTCCTTCCGGTGGGCGCGGGGCATGACTATCGTCGCCGCA                  12210     12220     12230     12240     12250     12260     12270     12280     12290 12300 CTTATGACTGTCTTCTTTATCATGCAACTCGTAGGACAGGTGCCGGCAGCGCTCTGGGTCATTTTCGGCGAGGACCGCTTTCGCTGGAGCGCGACGATGA                  12310     12320     12330     12340     12350     12360     12370     12380     12390 12400 TCGGCCTGTCGCTTGCGGTATTCGGAATCTTGCACGCCCTCGCTCAAGCCTTCGTCACTGGTCCCGCCACCAAACGTTTCGGCGAGAAGCAGGCCATTAT                  12410     12420     12430     12440     12450     12460     12470     12480     12490 12500 CGCCGGCATGGCGGCCGACGCGCTGGGCTACGTCTTGCTGGCGTTCGCGACGCGAGGCTGGATGGCCTTCCCCATTATGATTCTTCTCGCTTCCGGCGGC                  12510     12520     12530     12540     12550     12560     12570     12580     12590 12600 ATCGGGATGCCCGCGTTGCAGGCCATGCTGTCCAGGCAGGTAGATGACGACCATCAGGGACAGCTTCAAGGATCGCTCGCGGCTCTTACCAGCCTAACTT                  12610     12620     12630     12640     12650     12660     12670     12680     12690 12700 CGATCACTGGACCGCTGATCGTCACGGCGATTTATGCCGCCTCGGCGAGCACATGGAACGGGTTGGCATGGATTGTAGGCGCCGCCCTATACCTTGTCTG                  12710     12720     12730     12740     12750     12760     12770     12780     12790 12800 CCTCCCCGCGTTGCGTCGCGGTGCATGGAGCCGGGCCACCTCGACCTGAATGGAAGCCGGCGGCACCTCGCTAACGGATTCACCACTCCAAGAATTGGAG                  12810     12820     12830     12840     12850     12860     12870     12880     12890 12900 CCAATCAATTCTTGCGGAGAACTGTGAATGCGCAAACCAACCCTTGGCAGAACATATCCATCGCGTCCGCCATCTCCAGCAGCCGCACGCGGCGCATCTC                  12910     12920     12930     12940     12950     12960     12970     12980     12990 13000 GGGCAGCGTTGGGTCCTGGCCACGGGTGCGCATGATCGTGCTCCTGTCGTTGAGGACCCGGCTAGGCTGGCGGGGTTGCCTTACTGGTTAGCAGAATGAA                  13010     13020     13030     13040     13050     13060     13070     13080     13090 13100 TCACCGATACGCGAGCGAACGTGAAGCGACTGCTGCTGCAAAACGTCTGCGACCTGAGCAACAACATGAATGGTCTTCGGTTTCCGTGTTTCGTAAAGTC                  13110     13120     13130     13140     13150     13160     13170     13180     13190 13200 TGGAAACGCGGAAGTCAGCGCCCTGCACCATTATGTTCCGGATCTGCATCGCAGGATGCTGCTGGCTACCCTGTGGAACACCTACATCTGTATTAACGAA                  13210     13220     13230     13240     13250     13260     13270     13280     13290 13300 GCGCTGGCATTGACCCTGAGTGATTTTTCTCTGGTCCCGCCGCATCCATACCGCCAGTTGTTTACCCTCACAACGTTCCAGTAACCGGGCATGTTCATCA                  13310     13320     13330     13340     13350     13360     13370     13380     13390 13400 TCAGTAACCCGTATCGTGAGCATCCTCTCTCGTTTCATCGGTATCATTACCCCCATGAACAGAAATCCCCCTTACACGGAGGCATCAGTGACCAAACAGG                  13410     13420     13430     13440     13450     13460     13470     13480     13490 13500 AAAAAACCGCCCTTAACATGGCCCGCTTTATCAGAAGCCAGACATTAACGCTTCTGGAGAAACTCAACGAGCTGGACGCGGATGAACAGGCAGACATCTG                  13510     13520     13530     13540     13550     13560     13570     13580     13590 13600 TGAATCGCTTCACGACCACGCTGATGAGCTTTACCGCAGCTGCCTCGCGCGTTTCGGTGATGACGGTGAAAACCTCTGACACATGCAGCTCCCGGAGACG                  13610     13620     13630     13640     13650     13660     13670     13680     13690 13700 GTCACAGCTTGTCTGTAAGCGGATGCCGGGAGCAGACAAGCCCGTCAGGGCGCGTCAGCGGGTGTTGGCGGGTGTCGGGGCGCAGCCATGACCCAGTCAC                  13710     13720     13730     13740     13750     13760     13770     13780     13790 13800 GTAGCGATAGCGGAGTGTATACTGGCTTAACTATGCGGCATCAGAGCAGATTGTACTGAGAGTGCACCATATGCGGTGTGAAATACCGCACAGATGCGTA                  13810     13820     13830     13840     13850     13860     13870     13880     13890 13900 AGGAGAAAATACCGCATCAGGCGCTCTTCCGCTTCCTCGCTCACTGACTCGCTGCGCTCGGTCGTTCGGCTGCGGCGAGCGGTATCAGCTCACTCAAAGG                  13910     13920     13930     13940     13950     13960     13970     13980     13990 14000 CGGTAATACGGTTATCCACAGAATCAGGGGATAACGCAGGAAAGAACATGTGAGCAAAAGGCCAGCAAAAGGCCAGGAACCGTAAAAAGGCCGCGTTGCT                  14010     14020     14030     14040     14050     14060     14070     14080     14090 14100 GGCGTTTTTCCATAGGCTCCGCCCCCCTGACGAGCATCACAAAAATCGACGCTCAAGTCAGAGGTGGCGAAACCCGACAGGACTATAAAGATACCAGGCG                  14110     14120     14130     14140     14150     14160     14170     14180     14190 14200 TTTCCCCCTGGAAGCTCCCTCGTGCGCTCTCCTGTTCCGACCCTGCCGCTTACCGGATACCTGTCCGCCTTTCTCCCTTCGGGAAGCGTGGCGCTTTCTC                  14210     14220     14230     14240     14250     14260     14270     14280     14290 14300 ATAGCTCACGCTGTAGGTATCTCAGTTCGGTGTAGGTCGTTCGCTCCAAGCTGGGCTGTGTGCACGAACCCCCCGTTCAGCCCGACCGCTGCGCCTTATC                  14310     14320     14330     14340     14350     14360     14370     14380     14390 14400 CGGTAACTATCGTCTTGAGTCCAACCCGGTAAGACACGACTTATCGCCACTGGCAGCAGCCACTGGTAACAGGATTAGCAGAGCGAGGTATGTAGGCGGT                  14410     14420     14430     14440     14450     14460     14470     14480     14490 14500 GCTACAGAGTTCTTGAAGTGGTGGCCTAACTACGGCTACACTAGAAGGACAGTATTTGGTATCTGCGCTCTGCTGAAGCCAGTTACCTTCGGAAAAAGAG                  14510     14520     14530     14540     14550     14560     14570     14580     14590 14600 TTGGTAGCTCTTGATCCGGCAAACAAACCACCGCTGGTAGCGGTG.GTTITTTTGTTTGCAAGCAGCAGATTACGCGCAGAAAAAAAGGATCTCAAGAAGA                  14610     14620     14630     14640     14650     14660     14670     14680     14690 14700 TCCTTTGATCTTTTCTACGGGGTCTGACGCTCAGTGGAACGAAAACTCACGTTAAGGGATTTTGGTCATGAGATTATCAAAAAGGATCTTCACCTAGATC                  14710     14720     14730     14740     14750     14760     14770     14780     14790 14800 CTTTTAAATTAAAAATGAAGTTTTAAATCAATCTAAAGTATATATGAGTAAACTTGGTCTGACAGTTACCAATGCTTAATCAGTGAGGCACCTATCTCAG                  14810     14820     14830     14840     14850     14860     14870     14880     14890 14900 CGATCTGTCTATTTCGTTCATCCATAGTTGCCTGACTCCCCGTCGTGTAGATAACTACGATACGGGAGGGCTTACCATCTGGCCCCAGTGCTGCAATGAT                  14910     14920     14930     14940     14950     14960     14970     14980     14990 15000 ACCGCGAGACCCACGCTCACCGGCTCCAGATTTATCAGCAATAPACCAGCCAGCCGGAAGGGCCGAGCGCAGAAGTGGTCCTGCAACTTTATCCGCCTCC                  15010     15020     15030     15040     15050     15060     15070     15080     15090 15100 ATCCAGTCTATTAATTGTTGCCGGGAAGCTAGAGTAAGTAGTTCGCCAGTTAATAGTTTGCGCAACGTTGTTGCCATTGCTGCAAGATCTGGCTAGCGAT                  15110     15120     15130     15140     15150             GACCCTGCTGATTGGTTCGCTGACCATTTCCGGGCGCGCCGATTTAGGTGACACTATAG

APPENDIX 2 Nucleotide and amino acid sequence of DEN3 (Sleman/78) cDNA plasmid p3 (DNA: SEQ ID NO: 48; Protein: SEQ ID NO: 49) Bases 1 to 10707: DEN3 virus genome cDNA Bases 95 to 10264: DEN3 polyprotein ORF Bases 95 to 436: C protein ORF Bases 437 to 934: prM protein ORF Bases 935 to 2413: E protein ORF Bases 2414 to 3469: NS1 protein ORF Bases 3470 to 4123: NS2A protein ORF Bases 4124 to 4513: NS2B protein ORF Bases 4514 to 6370: NS3 protein ORF Bases 6371 to 6751: NS4A protein ORF Bases 6752 to 6820: 2K protein ORF Bases 6821 to 7564: NS4B protein ORF Bases 7575 to 10264: NS5 protein  ORF                     10        20        30        40        50        60        70        80        90 100 AGTTGTTAGTCTACGTGGACCGACAAGAACAGTTTCGACTCGGAAGCTTGCTTAACGTAGTACTGACAGTTTTTTATTAGAGAGCAGATCTCTGATGAAC MetAsn>                    110       120       130       140       150       160       170       180       190 200 AACCAACGGAAAAAGACGGGAAAACCGTCTATCAATATGCTGAAACGCGTGAGAAACCGTGTGTCAACTGGATCACAGTTGGCGAAGAGATTCTCAAGAG AsnGlnArgLysLysThrGlyLysProSerIleAsnMetLeuLysArgValArgAsnArgValSerThrGlySerGlnLeuAlaLysArgPheSerArg>                    210       220       230       240       250       260       270       280       290 300 GACTGCTGAACGGCCAAGGACCAATGAAATTGGTTATGGCGTTCATAGCTTTCCTCAGATTTCTAGCCATTCCACCGACAGCAGGAGTCTTGGCTAGATG GlyLeuLeuAsnGlyGlnGlyProMetLysLeuValMetAlaPheIleAlaPheLeuArgPheLeuAlaIleProProThrAlaGlyValLeuAlaArgTrp>                    310       320       330       340       350       360       370       380       390 400 GGGAACCTTTAAGAAGTCGGGGGCTATTAAGGTCCTGAGAGGCTTCAAGAAGGAGATCTCAAACATGCTGAGCATTATCAACAGACGGAAAAAGACATCG GlyThrPheLysLysSerGlyAlaIleLysValLeuArgGlyPheLysLysGluIleSerAsnMetLeuSerIleIleAsnArgArgLysLysThrSer>                    410       420       430       440       450       460       470       480       490 500 CTCTGTCTCATGATGATGTTACCAGCAACACTTGCTTTCCACTTGACTTCACGAGATGGAGAGCCGCGCATGATTGTGGGGAAGAATGAAAGAGGAAAAT LeuCysLeuMetMetMetLeuProAlaThrLeuAlaPheHisLeuThrSerArgAspGlyGluProArgMetIleValGlyLysAsnGluArgGlyLys>                    510       520       530       540       550       560       570       580       590 600 CCCTACTTTTTAAGACAGCCTCTGGAATCAACATGTGCACACTCATAGCCATGGATTTGGGAGAGATGTGTGATGACACGGTCACCTACAAATGCCCCCT SerLeuLeuPheLysThrAlaSerGlyIleAsnMetCysThrLeuIleAlaMetAspLeuGlyGluMetCysAspAspThrValThrTyrLysCysProLeu>                    610       620       630       640       650       660       670       680       690 700 CATTACTGAAGTGGAGCCTGAAGACATTGACTGCTGGTGCAACCTTACATCGACATGGGTGACCTACGGAACGTGCAATCAAGCTGGAGAGCACAGACGC IleThrGluValGluProGluAspIleAspCysTrpCysAsnLeuThrSerThrTrpValThrTyrGlyThrCysAsnGlnAlaGlyGluHisArgArg>                    710       720       730       740       750       760       770       780       790 800 GACAAAAGATCGGTGGCGTTAGCTCCCCATGTCGGCATGGGACTGGACACACGCACCCAAACCTGGATGTCGGCTGAAGGAGCTTGGAGACAGGTCGAGA AspLysArgSerValAlaLeuAlaProHisValGlyMetGlyLeuAspThrArgThrGlnThrTrpMetSerAlaGluGlyAlaTrpArgGlnValGlu>                    810       820       830       840       850       860       870       880       890 900 AGGTAGAGACATGGGCCTTTAGGCACCCAGGGTTCACAATACTAGCCCTATTTCTTGCCCATTACATAGGCACTTCCTTGACCCAGAAAGTGGTTATTTT LysValGluThrTrpAlaPheArgHisProGlyPheThrIleLeuAlaLeuPheLeuAlaHisTyrIleGlyThrSerLeuThrGlnLysValValIlePhe>                    910       920       930       940       950       960       970       980       990 1000 CATACTACTAATGCTGGTCACCCCATCCATGACAATGAGATGCGTGGGAGTAGGAAACAGAGATTTTGTGGAAGGCCTATCAGGAGCTACGTGGGTTGAC IleLeuLeuMetLeuValThrProSerMetThrMetArgCysValGlyValGlyAsnArgAspPheValGluGlyLeuSerGlyAlaThrTrpValAsp>                   1010      1020      1030      1040      1050      1060      1070      1080      1090 1100 GTGGTGCTCGAGCACGGTGGGTGTGTGACTACCATGGCTAAGAACAAGCCCACGCTGGATATAGAGCTCCAGAAGACCGAGGCCACCCAACTGGCGACCC ValValLeuGluHisGlyGlyCysValThrThrMetAlaLysAsnLysProThrLeuAspIleGluLeuGlnLysThrGluAlaThrGlnLeuAlaThr>                   1110      1120      1130      1140      1150      1160      1170      1180      1190 1200 TAAGGAAACTATGTATTGAGGGAAAAATTACCAACGTAACAACCGACTCAAGGTGCCCCACCCAAGGGGAAGCGATTTTACCTGAGGAGCAGGACCAGAA LeuArgLysLeuCysIleGluGlyLysIleThrAsnValThrThrAspSerArgCysProThrGlnGlyGluAlaIleLeuProGluGluGlnAspGlnAsn>                   1210      1220      1230      1240      1250      1260      1270      1280      1290 1300 CCACGTGTGCAAGCACACATACGTGGACAGAGGCTGGGGAAACGGTTGTGGTTTGTTTGGCAAGGGAAGCCTGGTAACATGCGCGAAATTTCAATGTTTG HisValCysLysHisThrTyrValAspArgGlyTrpGlyAsnGlyCysGlyLeuPheGlyLysGlySerLeuValThrCysAlaLysPheGlnCysLeu>                   1310      1320      1330      1340      1350      1360      1370      1380      1390 1400 GAATCAATAGAGGGAAAAGTGGTGCAGCATGAGAACCTCAAATACACCGTCATCATCACAGTGCACACAGGAGATCAACACCAGGTGGGAAATGAAACGC GluSerIleGluGlyLysValValGlnHisGluAsnLeuLysTyrThrValIleIleThrValHisThrGlyAspGlnHisGlnValGlyAsnGluThr>                   1410      1420      1430      1440      1450      1460      1470      1480      1490 1500 AGGGAGTCACGGCTGAGATAACACCCCAGGCATCAACCGTTGAAGCCATCTTACCTGAATATGGAACCCTTGGGCTAGAATGCTCACCACGGACAGGTTT GlnGlyValThrAlaGluIleThrProGlnAlaSerThrValGluAlaIleLeuProGluTyrGlyThrLeuGlyLeuGluCysSerProArgThrGlyLeu>                   1510      1520      1530      1540      1550      1560      1570      1580      1590 1600 AGATTTCAATGAAATGATTTTGTTGACAATGAAGAACAAAGCATGGATGGTACATAGACAATGGTTTTTTGACCTACCTTTACCATGGACATCAGGAGCT AspPheAsnGluMetIleLeuLeuThrMetLysAsnLysAlaTrpMetValHisArgGlnTrpPhePheAspLeuProLeuProTrpThrSerGlyAla>                   1610      1620      1630      1640      1650      1660      1670      1680      1690 1700 ACAACAGAAACACCAACCTGGAATAAGAAAGAGCTTCTTGTGACATTCAAAAACGCACATGCAAAAAAGCAAGAAGTAGTAGTCCTTGGATCGCAAGAGG ThrThrGluThrProThrTrpAsnLysLysGluLeuLeuValThrPheLysAsnAlaHisAlaLysLysGlnGluValValValLeuGlySerGlnGlu>                   1710      1720      1730      1740      1750      1760      1770      1780      1790 1800 GAGCAATGCACACAGCACTGACAGGAGCTACAGAGATCCAAACCTCAGGAGGCACAAGTATTTTTGCGGGGCACTTAAAATGTAGACTCAAGATGGACAA GlyAlaMetHisThrAlaLeuThrGlyAlaThrGluIleGlnThrSerGlyGlyThrSerIlePheAlaGlyHisLeuLysCysArgLeuLysMetAspLys>                   1810      1820      1830      1840      1850      1860      1870      1880      1890 1900 ATTGGAACTCAAGGGGATGAGCTATGCAATGTGCTTGAATGCCTTTGTGTTGAAGAAAGAAGTCTCCGAAACGCAACATGGGACAATACTCATCAAGGTT LeuGluLeuLysGlyMetSerTyrAlaMetCysLeuAsnAlaPheValLeuLysLysGluValSerGluThrGlnHisGlyThrIleLeuIleLysVal>                   1910      1920      1930      1940      1950      1960      1970      1980      1990 2000 GAGTACAAAGGGGAAGATGCACCTTGCAAGATTCCTTTCTCCACGGAGGATGGACAAGGGAAAGCCCACAATGGCAGACTGATCACAGCTAACCCAGTGG GluTyrLysGlyGluAspAlaProCysLysIleProPheSerThrGluAspGlyGlnGlyLysAlaHisAsnGlyArgLeuIleThrAlaAsnProVal>                   2010      2020      2030      2040      2050      2060      2070      2080      2090 2100 TGACCAAGAAGGAGGAGCCTGTCAATATTGAGGCAGAACCTCCTTTTGGGGAAAGCAATATAGTAATTGGAATTGGAGACAAAGCCTTGAAAATCAACTG ValThrLysLysGluGluProValAsnIleGluAlaGluProProPheGlyGluSerAsnIleValIleGlyIleGlyAspLysAlaLeuLysIleAsnTrp>                   2110      2120      2130      2140      2150      2160      2170      2180      2190 2200 GTACAAGAAGGGAAGCTCGATTGGGAAGATGTTCGAGGCCACTGCCAGAGGTGCAAGGCGCATGGCCATCTTGGGAGACACAGCCTGGGACTTTGGATCA TyrLysLysGlySerSerIleGlyLysMetPheGluAlaThrAlaArgGlyAlaArgArgMetAlaIleLeuGlyAspThrAlaTrpAspPheGlySer>                   2210      2220      2230      2240      2250      2260      2270      2280      2290 2300 GTAGGTGGTGTTTTAAATTCATTAGGAAAAATGGTGCACCAAATATTTGGAAGTGCTTACACAGCCCTATTTAGTGGAGTCTCCTGGATAATGAAAATTG ValGlyGlyValLeuAsnSerLeuGlyLysMetValHisGlnIlePheGlySerAlaTyrThrAlaLeuPheSerGlyValSerTrpIleMetLysIle>                   2310      2320      2330      2340      2350      2360      2370      2380      2390 2400 GAATAGGTGTCCTTTTAACCTGGATAGGGTTGAATTCAAAAAACACTAGTATGAGCTTTAGCTGCATTGTGATAGGAATCATTACACTCTATCTGGGAGC GlyIleGlyValLeuLeuThrTrpIleGlyLeuAsnSerLysAsnThrSerMetSerPheSerCysIleValIleGlyIleIleThrLeuTyrLeuGlyAla>                   2410      2420      2430      2440      2450      2460      2470      2480      2490 2500 CGTGGTGCAAGCTGACATGGGGTGTGTCATAAACTGGAAAGGCAAAGAACTCAAATGTGGAAGTGGAATTTTCGTCACTAATGAGGTCCACACCTGGACA ValValGlnAlaAspMetGlyCysValIleAsnTrpLysGlyLysGluLeuLysCysGlySerGlyIlePheValThrAsnGluValHisThrTrpThr>                   2510      2520      2530      2540      2550      2560      2570      2580      2590 2600 GAGCAATACAAATTTCAAGCAGACTCCCCCAAAAGACTGGCGACAGCCATTGCAGGCGCTTGGGAGAATGGAGTGTGCGGAATCAGGTCGACAACCAGAA GluGlnTyrLysPheGlnAlaAspSerProLysArgLeuAlaThrAlaIleAlaGlyAlaTrpGluAsnGlyValCysGlyIleArgSerThrThrArg>                   2610      2620      2630      2640      2650      2660      2670      2680      2690 2700 TGGAGAACCTCTTGTGGAAGCAAATAGCCAATGAACTGAACTACATATTATGGGAAAACAACATCAAATTAACGGTAGTTGTGGGTGATATAATTGGGGT MetGluAsnLeuLeuTrpLysGlnIleAlaAsnGluLeuAsnTyrIleLeuTrpGluAsnAsnIleLysLeuThrValValValGlyAspIleIleGlyVal>                   2710      2720      2730      2740      2750      2760      2770      2780      2790 2800 CTTAGAGCAAGGGAAAAGAACACTAACACCACAACCCATGGAACTAAAATATTCATGGAAAACATGGGGAAAGGCGAAGATAGTGACAGCTGAAACACAA LeuGluGlnGlyLysArgThrLeuThrProGlnProMetGluLeuLysTyrSerTrpLysThrTrpGlyLysAlaLysIleValThrAlaGluThrGln>                   2810      2820      2830      2840      2850      2860      2870      2880      2890 2900 AATTCCTCTTTCATAATAGATGGGCCAAACACACCAGAGTGTCCAAGTGCCTCAAGAGCATGGAATGTGTGGGAGGTGGAAGATTACGGGTTCGGAGTCT AsnSerSerPheIleIleAspGlyProAsnThrProGluCysProSerAlaSerArgAlaTrpAsnValTrpGluValGluAspTyrGlyPheGlyVal>                   2910      2920      2930      2940      2950      2960      2970      2980      2990 3000 TCACAACTAACATATGGCTGAAACTCCGAGAGATGTACACCCAACTATGTGACCACAGGCTAATGTCGGCAGCCGTTAAGGATGAGAGGGCCGTACACGC PheThrThrAsnIleTrpLeuLysLeuArgGluMetTyrThrGlnLeuCysAspHisArgLeuMetSerAlaAlaValLysAspGluArgAlaValHisAla>                   3010      3020      3030      3040      3050      3060      3070      3080      3090 3100 CGACATGGGCTATTGGATAGAAAGCCAAAAGAATGGAAGTTGGAAGCTAGAAAAGGCATCCCTCATAGAGGTAAAAACCTGCACATGGCCAAAATCACAC AspMetGlyTyrTrpIleGluSerGlnLysAsnGlySerTrpLysLeuGluLysAlaSerLeuIleGluValLysThrCysThrTrpProLysSerHis>                   3110      3120      3130      3140      3150      3160      3170      3180      3190 3200 ACTCTTTGGAGCAATGGTGTGCTAGAGAGTGACATGATCATCCCAAAGAGTCTGGCTGGTCCCATTTCGCAACACAACTACAGGCCCGGATACCACACCC ThrLeuTrpSerAsnGlyValLeuGluSerAspMetIleIleProLysSerLeuAlaGlyProIleSerGlnHisAsnTyrArgProGlyTyrHisThr>                   3210      3220      3230      3240      3250      3260      3270      3280      3290 3300 AAACGGCAGGACCCTGGCACTTAGGAAAATTGGAGCTGGACTTCAACTATTGTGAAGGAACAACAGTTGTCATCACAGAAAATTGTGGGACAAGAGGCCC GlnThrAlaGlyProTrpHisLeuGlyLysLeuGluLeuAspPheAsnTyrCysGluGlyThrThrValValIleThrGluAsnCysGlyThrArgGlyPro>                   3310      3320      3330      3340      3350      3360      3370      3380      3390 3400 ATCACTGAGAACAACAACAGTGTCAGGGAAGTTGATACACGAATGGTGTTGCCGCTCGTGTACACTTCCTCCCCTGCGATACATGGGAGAAGACGGCTGC SerLeuArgThrThrThrValSerGlyLysLeuIleHisGluTrpCysCysArgSerCysThrLeuProProLeuArgTyrMetGlyGluAspGlyCys>                   3410      3420      3430      3440      3450      3460      3470      3480      3490 3500 TGGTATGGCATGGAAATTAGACCCATTAATGAGAAAGAAGAGAACATGGTAAAGTCTTTAGTCTCAGCAGGGAGTGGAAAGGTGGATAACTTCACAATGG TrpTyrGlyMetGluIleArgProIleAsnGluLysGluGluAsnMetValLysSerLeuValSerAlaGlySerGlyLysValAspAsnPheThrMet>                   3510      3520      3530      3540      3550      3560      3570      3580      3590 3600 GTGTCTTGTGTTTGGCAATCCTTTTTGAAGAGGTGATGAGAGGAAAATTTGGGAAAAAGCACATGATTGCAGGGGTTCTCTTCACGTTTGTACTCCTTCT GlyValLeuCysLeuAlaIleLeuPheGluGluValMetArgGlyLysPheGlyLysLysHisMetIleAlaGlyValLeuPheThrPheValLeuLeuLeu>                   3610      3620      3630      3640      3650      3660      3670      3680      3690 3700 CTCAGGGCAAATAACATGGAGAGACATGGCGCACACACTCATAATGATTGGGTCCAACGCCTCTGACAGAATGGGAATGGGCGTCACTTACCTAGCATTG SerGlyGlnIleThrTrpArgAspMetAlaHisThrLeuIleMetIleGlySerAsnAlaSerAspArgMetGlyMetGlyValThrTyrLeuAlaLeu>                   3710      3720      3730      3740      3750      3760      3770      3780      3790 3800 ATTGCAACATTTAAAATTCAGCCATTTTTGGCTTTGGGATTCTTCCTGAGGAAACTGACATCTAGAGAAAATTTATTGTTGGGAGTTGGGTTGGCCATGG IleAlaThrPheLysIleGlnProPheLeuAlaLeuGlyPhePheLeuArgLysLeuThrSerArgGluAsnLeuLeuLeuGlyValGlyLeuAlaMet>                   3810      3820      3830      3840      3850      3860      3870      3880      3890 3900 CAACAACGTTACAACTGCCAGAGGACATTGAACAAATGGCGAATGGAATAGCTTTAGGGCTCATGGCTCTTAAATTAATAACACAATTTGAAACATACCA AlaThrThrLeuGlnLeuProGluAspIleGluGlnMetAlaAsnGlyIleAlaLeuGlyLeuMetAlaLeuLysLeuIleThrGlnPheGluThrTyrGln>                   3910      3920      3930      3940      3950      3960      3970      3980      3990 4000 ACTATGGACGGCATTAGTCTCCCTAATGTGTTCAAATACAATTTTCACGTTGACTGTTGCCTGGAGAACAGCCACCCTGATTTTGGCCGGAATTTCTCTT LeuTrpThrAlaLeuValSerLeuMetCysSerAsnThrIlePheThrLeuThrValAlaTrpArgThrAlaThrLeuIleLeuAlaGlyIleSerLeu>                   4010      4020      4030      4040      4050      4060      4070      4080      4090 4100 TTGCCAGTGTGCCAGTCTTCGAGCATGAGGAAAACAGATTGGCTCCCAATGGCTGTGGCAGCTATGGGAGTTCCACCCCTACCACTTTTTATTTTCAGTT LeuProValCysGlnSerSerSerMetArgLysThrAspTrpLeuProMetAlaValAlaAlaMetGlyValProProLeuProLeuPheIlePheSer>                   4110      4120      4130      4140      4150      4160      4170      4180      4190 4200 TGAAAGATACGCTCAAAAGGAGAAGCTGGCCACTGAATGAGGGGGTGATGGCTGTTGGACTTGTGAGTATTCTAGCTAGTTCTCTCCTTAGGAATGACGT LeuLysAspThrLeuLysArgArgSerTrpProLeuAsnGluGlyValMetAlaValGlyLeuValSerIleLeuAlaSerSerLeuLeuArgAsnAspVal>                   4210      4220      4230      4240      4250      4260      4270      4280      4290 4300 GCCCATGGCTGGACCATTAGTGGCTGGGGGCTTGCTGATAGCGTGCTACGTCATAACTGGCACGTCAGGAGACCTCACTGTAGAAAAAGCAGCAGATGTG ProMetAlaGlyProLeuValAlaGlyGlyLeuLeuIleAlaCysTyrValIleThrGlyThrSerAlaAspLeuThrValGluLysAlaAlaAspVal>                   4310      4320      4330      4340      4350      4360      4370      4380      4390 4400 ACATGGGAGGAAGAGGCTGAGCAAACAGGAGTGTCCCACAATTTAATGATCACAGTTGATGACGATGGAACAATGAGAATAAAAGATGATGAGACTGAGA ThrTrpGluGluGluAlaGluGlnThrGlyValSerHisAsnLeuMetIleThrValAspAspAspGlyThrMetArgIleLysAspAspGluThrGlu>                   4410      4420      4430      4440      4450      4460      4470      4480      4490 4500 ACATCTTAACAGTGCTTTTGAAAACAGCATTACTAATAGTGTCAGGCATTTTTCCATACTCCATACCCGCAACACTGTTGGTCTGGCACACTTGGCAAAA AsnIleLeuThrValLeuLeuLysThrAlaLeuLeuIleValSerGlyIlePheProTyrSerIleProAlaThrLeuLeuValTrpHisThrTrpGlnLys>                   4510      4520      4530      4540      4550      4560      4570      4580      4590 4600 GCAAACCCAAAGATCCGGTGTCCTATGGGACGTTCCCAGCCCCCCAGAGACACAGAAAGCAGAACTGGAAGAAGGGGTTTATAGGATCAAGCAGCAAGGA GlnThrGlnArgSerGlyValLeuTrpAspValProSerProProGluThrGlnLysAlaGluLeuGluGluGlyValTyrArgIleLysGlnGlnGly>                   4610      4620      4630      4640      4650      4660      4670      4680      4690 4700 ATTTTTGGGAAAACCCAAGTGGGGGTTGGAGTACAAAAAGAAGGAGTTTTCCACACCATGTGGCACGTCACAAGAGGAGCAGTGTTGACACACAATGGGA IlePheGlyLysThrGlnValGlyValGlyValGlnLysGluGlyValPheHisThrMetTrpHisValThrArgGlyAlaValLeuThrHisAsnGly>                   4710      4720      4730      4740      4750      4760      4770      4780      4790 4800 AAAGACTGGAACCAAACTGGGCTAGCGTGAAAAAAGATCTGATTTCATACGGAGGAGGATGGAAATTGAGTGCACAATGGCAAAAAGGAGAGGAGGTGCA LysArgLeuGluProAsnTrpAlaSerValLysLysAspLeuIleSerTyrGlyGlyGlyTrpLysLeuSerAlaGlnTrpGlnLysGlyGluGluValGln>                   4810      4820      4830      4840      4850      4860      4870      4880      4890 4900 GGTTATTGCCGTAGAGCCTGGGAAGAACCCAAAGAACTTTCAAACCATGCCAGGCATTTTCCAGACAACAACAGGGGAGATAGGAGCGATTGCACTGGAC ValIleAlaValGluProGlyLysAsnProLysAsnPheGlnThrMetProGlyIlePheGlnThrThrThrGlyGluIleGlyAlaIleAlaLeuAsp>                   4910      4920      4930      4940      4950      4960      4970      4980      4990 5000 TTCAAGCCTGGAACTTCAGGATCTCCCATCATAAACAGAGAGGGAAAGGTACTGGGATTGTATGGCAATGGAGTGGTCACAAAGAATGGTGGCTATGTCA PheLysProGlyThrSerGlySerProIleIleAsnArgGluGlyLysValLeuGlyLeuTyrGlyAsnGlyValValThrLysAsnGlyGlyTyrVal>                   5010      5020      5030      5040      5050      5060      5070      5080      5090 5100 GTGGAATAGCACAAACAAATGCAGAACCAGACGGACCGACACCAGAGTTGGAAGAAGAGATGTTCAAAAAGCGAAATCTAACCATAATGGATCTCCATCC SerGlyIleAlaGlnThrAsnAlaGluProAspGlyProThrProGluLeuGluGluGluMetPheLysLysArgAsnLeuThrIleMetAspLeuHisPro>                   5110      5120      5130      5140      5150      5160      5170      5180      5190 5200 CGGGTCAGGAAAGACGCGGAAATATCTTCCAGCTATTGTTAGAGAGGCAATCAAGAGACGCTTAAGGACTCTAATTTTGGCACCAACAAGGGTAGTTGCA GlySerGlyLysThrArgLysTyrLeuProAlaIleValArgGluAlaIleLysArgArgLeuArgThrLeuIleLeuAlaProThrArgValValAla>                   5210      5220      5230      5240      5250      5260      5270      5280      5290 5300 GCTGAGATGGAAGAAGCATTGAAAGGGCTCCCAATAAGGTATCAAACAACTGCAACAAAATCTGAACACACAGGGAGAGAGATTGTTGATCTAATGTGCC AlaGluMetGluGluAlaLeuLysGlyLeuProIleArgTyrGlnThrThrAlaThrLysSerGluHisThrGlyArgGluIleValAspLeuMetCys>                   5310      5320      5330      5340      5350      5360      5370      5380      5390 5400 ACGCAACGTTCACAATGCGTTTGCTGTCACCAGTCAGGGTTCCAAACTACAACTTGATAATAATGGATGAGGCTCATTTCACAGACCCAGCCAGTATAGC HisAlaThrPheThrMetArgLeuLeuSerProValArgValProAsnTyrAsnLeuIleIleMetAspGluAlaHisPheThrAspProAlaSerIleAla>                   5410      5420      5430      5440      5450      5460      5470      5480      5490 5500 GGCTAGAGGGTACATATCAACTCGTGTAGGAATGGGAGAGGCAGCCGCAATTTTCATGACAGCCACACCCCCTGGAACAGCTGATGCCTTTCCTCAGAGC AlaArgGlyTyrIleSerThrArgValGlyMetGlyGluAlaAlaAlaIlePheMetThrAlaThrProProGlyThrAlaAspAlaPheProGlnSer>                   5510      5520      5530      5540      5550      5560      5570      5580      5590 5600 AACGCTCCAATTCAAGATGAAGAAAGAGACATACCAGAACGCTCATGGAATTCAGGCAATGAATGGATTACCGACTTTGCCGGGAAGACGGTGTGGTTTG AsnAlaProIleGlnAspGluGluArgAspIleProGluArgSerTrpAsnSerGlyAsnGluTrpIleThrAspPheAlaGlyLysThrValTrpPhe>                   5610      5620      5630      5640      5650      5660      5670      5680      5690 5700 TCCCTAGCATCAAAGCTGGAAATGACATAGCAAACTGCTTGCGGAAAAATGGAAAAAAGGTCATTCAACTTAGTAGGAAGACTTTTGACACAGAATATCA ValProSerIleLysAlaGlyAsnAspIleAlaAsnCysLeuArgLysAsnGlyLysLysValIleGlnLeuSerArgLysThrPheAspThrGluTyrGln>                   5710      5720      5730      5740      5750      5760      5770      5780      5790 5800 AAAGACTAAACTAAATGATTGGGACTTTGTGGTGACAACAGACATTTCAGAAATGGGAGCCAATTTCAAAGCAGACAGAGTGATCGACCCAAGAAGATGT LysThrLysLeuAsnAspTrpAspPheValValThrThrAspIleSerGluMetGlyAlaAsnPheLysAlaAspArgValIleAspProArgArgCys>                   5810      5820      5830      5840      5850      5860      5870      5880      5890 5900 CTCAAGCCAGTGATTTTGACAGACGGACCCGAGCGCGTGATCCTGGCGGGACCAATGCCAGTCACCGTAGCGAGCGCTGCGCAAAGGAGAGGGAGAGTTG LeuLysProValIleLeuThrAspGlyProGluArgValIleLeuAlaGlyProMetProValThrValAlaSerAlaAlaGlnArgArgGlyArgVal>                   5910      5920      5930      5940      5950      5960      5970      5980      5990 6000 GCAGGAACCCACAAAAAGAAAATGACCAATACATATTCATGGGCCAGCCCCTCAATAATGATGAAGACCATGCTCACTGGACAGAAGCAAAAATGCTGCT GlyArgAsnProGlnLysGluAsnAspGlnTyrIlePheMetGlyGlnProLeuAsnAsnAspGluAspHisAlaHisTrpThrGluAlaLysMetLeuLeu>                   6010      6020      6030      6040      6050      6060      6070      6080      6090 6100 AGACAACATCAACACACCAGAAGGGATCATACCAGCTCTCTTTGAACCAGAAAGGGAGAAGTCAGCCGCCATAGACGGCGAATACCGCCTGAAGGGTGAG AspAsnIleAsnThrProGluGlyIleIleProAlaLeuPheGluProGluArgGluLysSerAlaAlaIleAspGlyGluTyrArgLeuLysGlyGlu>                   6110      6120      6130      6140      6150      6160      6170      6180      6190 6200 TCCAGGAAGACCTTCGTGGAACTCATGAGGAGGGGTGACCTCCCAGTTTGGCTAGCCCATAAAGTAGCATCAGAAGGGATCAAATATACAGATAGAAAGT SerArgLysThrPheValGluLeuMetArgArgGlyAspLeuProValTrpLeuAlaHisLysValAlaSerGluGlyIleLysTyrThrAspArgLys>                   6210      6220      6230      6240      6250      6260      6270      6280      6290 6300 GGTGTTTTGATGGAGAACGCAACAATCAAATTTTAGAGGAGAATATGGATGTGGAAATCTGGACAAAGGAAGGAGAAAAGAAAAAATTGAGACCTAGGTG TrpCysPheAspGlyGluArgAsnAsnGlnIleLeuGluGluAsnMetAspValGluIleTrpThrLysGluGlyGluLysLysLysLeuArgProArgTrp>                   6310      6320      6330      6340      6350      6360      6370      6380      6390 6400 GCTTGATGCCCGCACTTATTCAGATCCCTTAGCGCTCAAGGAATTCAAGGACTTTGCGGCTGGTAGAAAGTCAATTGCCCTTGATCTTGTGACAGAAATA LeuAspAlaArgThrTyrSerAspProLeuAlaLeuLysGluPheLysAspPheAlaAlaGlyArgLysSerIleAlaLeuAspLeuValThrGluIle>                   6410      6420      6430      6440      6450      6460      6470      6480      6490 6500 GGAAGAGTGCCTTCACACTTAGCTCACAGAACGAGAAACGCCCTGGACAATCTGGTGATGTTGCACACGTCAGAACATGGCGGGAGGGCCTACAGGCATG GlyArgValProSerHisLeuAlaHisArgThrArgAsnAlaLeuAspAsnLeuValMetLeuHisThrSerGluHisGlyGlyArgAlaTyrArgHis>                   6510      6520      6530      6540      6550      6560      6570      6580      6590 6600 CAGTGGAGGAACTACCAGAAACAATGGAAACACTCTTACTCCTGGGACTCATGATCCTGTTAACAGGTGGAGCAATGCTTTTCTTGATATCAGGTAAAGG AlaValGluGluLeuProGluThrMetGluThrLeuLeuLeuLeuGlyLeuMetIleLeuLeuThrGlyGlyAlaMetLeuPheLeuIleSerGlyLysGly>                   6610      6620      6630      6640      6650      6660      6670      6680      6690 6700 GATTGGAAAGACTTCAATAGGACTCATTTGTGTAGCTGCTTCCAGCGGTATGTTATGGATGGCTGATGTCCCACTCCAATGGATCGCGTCTGCCATAGTC IleGlyLysThrSerIleGlyLeuIleCysValAlaAlaSerSerGlyMetLeuTrpMetAlaAspValProLeuGlnTrpIleAlaSerAlaIleVal>                   6710      6720      6730      6740      6750      6760      6770      6780      6790 6800 CTGGAGTTTTTTATGATGGTGTTACTTATACCAGAACCAGAAAAGCAGAGAACTCCCCAAGACAATCAACTCGCATATGTCGTGATAGGCATACTCACAC LeuGluPhelpheMetMetValLeuLeuIleProGluProGluLysGlnArgThrProGlnAspAsnGlnLeuAlaTyrValValIleGlyIleLeuThr>                   6810      6820      6830      6840      6850      6860      6870      6880      6890 6900 TGGCTGCAATAGTAGCAGCCAATGAAATGGGACTGTTGGAAACCACAAAGAGAGATTTAGGAATGTCCAAAGAACCAGGTGTTGTTTCTCCAACCAGCTA LeuAlaAlaIleValAlaAlaAsnGluMetGlyLeuLeuGluThrThrLysArgAspLeuGlyMetSerLysGluProGlyValValSerProThrSerTyr>                   6910      6920      6930      6940      6950      6960      6970      6980      6990 7000 TTTGGATGTGGACTTGCACCCAGCATCAGCCTGGACATTGTACGCTGTGGCCACAACAGTAATAACACCAATGTTGAGACATACCATAGAGAATTCCACA LeuAspValAspLeuHisProAlaSerAlaTrpThrLeuTyrAlaValAlaThrThrValIleThrProMetLeuArgHisThrIleGluAsnSerThr>                   7010      7020      7030      7040      7050      7060      7070      7080      7090 7100 GCAAATGTGTCCCTGGCAGCTATAGCCAACCAGGCAGTGGTCCTGATGGGTTTAGACAAAGGATGGCCGATATCGAAAATGGACTTAGGCGTGCCACTAT AlaAsnValSerLeuAlaAlaIleAlaAsnGlnAlaValValLeuMetGlyLeuAspLysGlyTrpProIleSerLysMetAspLeuGlyValProLeu>                   7110      7120      7130      7140      7150      7160      7170      7180      7190 7200 TGGCACTGGGTTGTTATTCACAAGTGAACCCACTAACTCTCACAGCGGCAGTTCTCCTGCTAGTCACGCATTATGCTATTATAGGTCCAGGATTGCAGGC LeuAlaLeuGlyCysTyrSerGlnValAsnProLeuThrLeuThrAlaAlaValLeuLeuLeuValThrHisTyrAlaIleIleGlyProGlyLeuGlnAla>                   7210      7220      7230      7240      7250      7260      7270      7280      7290 7300 AAAAGCCACTCGTGAAGCTCAAAAAAGGACAGCTGCTGGAATAATGAAGAATCCAACGGTGGATGGGATAATGACAATAGACCTAGATCCTGTAATATAC LysAlaThrArgGluAlaGlnLysArgThrAlaAlaGlyIleMetLysAsnProThrValAspGlyIleMetThrIleAspLeuAspProValIleTyr>                   7310      7320      7330      7340      7350      7360      7370      7380      7390 7400 GATTCAAAATTTGAAAAGCAACTAGGACAGGTTATGCTCCTGGTTCTGTGTGCAGTTCAACTTTTGTTAATGAGAACATCATGGGCTTTTTGTGAAGCTC AspSerLysPheGluLysGlnLeuGlyGlnValMetLeuLeuValLeuCysAlaValGlnLeuLeuLeuMetArgThrSerTrpAlaPheCysGluAla>                   7410      7420      7430      7440      7450      7460      7470      7480      7490 7500 TAACCCTAGCCACAGGACCAATAACAACACTCTGGGAAGGATCACCTGGGAAGTTCTGGAACACCACGATAGCTGTTTCCATGGCGAACATCTTTAGAGG LeuThrLeuAlaThrGlyProIleThrThrLeuTrpGluGlySerProGlyLysPheTrpAsnThrThrIleAlaValSerMetAlaAsnIlePheArgGly>                   7510      7520      7530      7540      7550      7560      7570      7580      7590 7600 GAGCTATTTAGCAGGAGCTGGGCTTGCTTTTTCTATCATGAAATCAGTTGGAACAGGAAAGAGAGGGACAGGGTCACAGGGTGAAACCTTGGGAGAAAAG SerTyrLeuAlaGlyAlaGlyLeuAlaPheSerIleMetLysSerValGlyThrGlyLysArgGlyThrGlySerGlnGlyGluThrLeuGlyGluLys>                   7610      7620      7630      7640      7650      7660      7670      7680      7690 7700 TGGAAAAAGAAATTGAATCAATTACCCCGGAAAGAGTTTGACCTTTACAAGAAATCCGGAATCACTGAAGTGGATAGAACAGAAGCCAAAGAAGGGTTGA TrpLysLysLysLeuAsnGlnLeuProArgLysGluPheAspLeuTyrLysLysSerGlyIleThrGluValAspArgThrGluAlaLysGluGlyLeu>                   7710      7720      7730      7740      7750      7760      7770      7780      7790 7800 AAAGAGGAGAAATAACACACCATGCCGTGTCCAGAGGCAGCGCAAAACTTCAATGGTTCGTGGAGAGAAACATGGTCATCCCCGAAGGAAGAGTCATAGA LysArgGlyGluIleThrHisHisAlaValSerArgGlySerAlaLysLeuGlnTrpPheValGluArgAsnMetValIleProGluGlyArgValIleAsp>                   7810      7820      7830      7840      7850      7860      7870      7880      7890 7900 CTTAGGCTGTGGAAGAGGAGGCTGGTCATATTATTGTGCAGGACTGAAAAAAGTTACAGAAGTGCGAGGATACACAAAAGGCGGCCCAGGACATGAAGAA LeuGlyCysGlyArgGlyGlyTrpSerTyrTyrCysAlaGlyLeuLysLysValThrGluValArgGlyTyrThrLysGlyGlyProGlyHisGluGlu>                   7910      7920      7930      7940      7950      7960      7970      7980      7990 8000 CCAGTACCTATGTCTACATACGGATGGAACATAGTCAAGTTAATGAGTGGAAAGGATGTGTTTTATCTTCCACCTGAAAAGTGTGATACTCTATTGTGTG ProValProMetSerThrTyrGlyTrpAsnIleValLysLeuMetSerGlyLysAspValPheTyrLeuProProGluLysCysAspThrLeuLeuCys>                   8010      8020      8030      8040      8050      8060      8070      8080      8090 8100 ACATTGGAGAATCTTCACCAAGCCCAACAGTGGAAGAAAGCAGAACCATAAGAGTCTTGAAGATGGTTGAACCATGGCTAAAAAATAACCAGTTTTGCAT AspIleGlyGluSerSerProSerProThrValGluGluSerArgThrIleArgValLeuLysMetValGluProTrpLeuLysAsnAsnGlnPheCysIle>                   8110      8120      8130      8140      8150      8160      8170      8180      8190 8200 TAAAGTATTGAACCCTTACATGCCAACTGTGATTGAGCACCTAGAAAGACTACAAAGGAAACATGGAGGAATGCTTGTGAGAAATCCACTCTCACGAAAC LysValLeuAsnProTyrMetProThrValIleGluHisLeuGluArgLeuGlnArgLysHisGlyGlyMetLeuValArgAsnProLeuSerArgAsn>                   8210      8220      8230      8240      8250      8260      8270      8280      8290 8300 TCCACGCACGAAATGTACTGGATATCTAATGGCACAGGCAATATCGTTTCTTCAGTCAACATGGTATCCAGATTGCTACTTAACAGATTCACAATGACAC SerThrHisGluMetTyrTrpIleSerAsnGlyThrGlyAsnIleValSerSerValAsnMetValSerArgLeuLeuLeuAsnArgPheThrMetThr>                   8310      8320      8330      8340      8350      8360      8370      8380      8390 8400 ATAGGAGACCCACCATAGAGAAAGATGTGGATTTAGGAGCGGGGACCCGACATGTCAATGCGGAACCAGAAACACCCAACATGGATGTCATTGGGGAAAG HisArgArgProThrIleGluLysAspValAspLeuGlyAlaGlyThrArgHisValAsnAlaGluProGluThrProAsnMetAspValIleGlyGluArg>                   8410      8420      8430      8440      8450      8460      8470      8480      8490 8500 AATAAGAAGGATCAAGGAGGAGCATAGTTCAACATGGCACTATGATGATGAAAATCCTTATAAAACGTGGGCTTACCATGGATCCTATGAAGTTAAGGCC IleArgArgIleLysGluGluHisSerSerThrTrpHisTyrAspAspGluAsnProTyrLysThrTrpAlaTyrHisGlySerTyrGluValLysAla>                   8510      8520      8530      8540      8550      8560      8570      8580      8590 8600 ACAGGCTCAGCCTCCTCCATGATAAATGGAGTCGTGAAACTCCTCACGAAACCATGGGATGTGGTGCCCATGGTGACACAGATGGCAATGACGGATACAA ThrGlySerAlaSerSerMetIleAsnGlyValValLysLeuLeuThrLysProTrpAspValValProMetValThrGlnMetAlaMetThrAspThr>                   8610      8620      8630      8640      8650      8660      8670      8680      8690 8700 CCCCATTCGGCCAGCAAAGGGTTTTTAAAGAGAAAGTGGACACCAGGACACCCAGACCTATGCCAGGAACAAGAAAGGTTATGGAGATCACAGCGGAATG ThrProPheGlyGlnGlnArgValPheLysGluLysValAspThrArgThrProArgProMetProGlyThrArgLysValMetGluIleThrAlaGluTrp>                   8710      8720      8730      8740      8750      8760      8770      8780      8790 8800 GCTTTGGAGAACCCTGGGAAGGAACAAAAGACCCAGATTATGTACGAGAGAGGAGTTCACAAAAAAGGTCAGAACCAACGCAGCTATGGGCGCCGTTTTT LeuTrpArgThrLeuGlyArgAsnLysArgProArgLeuCysThrArgGluGluPheThrLysLysValArgThrAsnAlaAlaMetGlyAlaValPhe>                   8810      8820      8830      8840      8850      8860      8870      8880      8890 8900 ACAGAGGAGAACCAATGGGACAGTGCTAGAGCTGCTGTTGAGGATGAAGAATTCTGGAAACTCGTGGACAGAGAACGTGAACTCCACAAATTGGGCAAGT ThrGluGluAsnGlnTrpAspSerAlaArgAlaAlaValGluAspGluGluPheTrpLysLeuValAspArgGluArgGluLeuHisLysLeuGlyLys>                   8910      8920      8930      8940      8950      8960      8970      8980      8990 9000 GTGGAAGCTGCGTTTACAACATGATGGGCAAGAGAGAGAAGAAACTTGGAGAGTTTGGCAAAGCAAAAGGCAGTAGAGCCATATGGTACATGTGGTTGGG CysGlySerCysValTyrAsnMetMetGlyLysArgGluLysLysLeuGlyGluPheGlyLysAlaLysGlySerArgAlaIleTrpTyrMetTrpLeuGly>                   9010      9020      9030      9040      9050      9060      9070      9080      9090 9100 AGCCAGATACCTTGAGTTCGAAGCACTCGGATTCTTAAATGAAGACCATTGGTTCTCGCGTGAAAACTCTTACAGTGGAGTAGAAGGAGAAGGACTGCAC AlaArgTyrLeuGluPheGluAlaLeuGlyPheLeuAsnGluAspHisTrpPheSerArgGluAsnSerTyrSerGlyValGluGlyGluGlyLeuHis>                   9110      9120      9130      9140      9150      9160      9170      9180      9190 9200 AAGCTGGGATACATCTTAAGAGACATTTCCAAGATACCCGGAGGAGCTATGTATGCTGATGACACAGCTGGTTGGGACACAAGAATAACAGAAGATGACC LysLeuGlyTyrIleLeuArgAspIleSerLysIleProGlyGlyAlaMetTyrAlaAspAspThrAlaGlyTrpAspThrArgIleThrGluAspAsp>                   9210      9220      9230      9240      9250      9260      9270      9280      9290 9300 TGCACAATGAGGAAAAAATCACACAGCAAATGGACCCTGAACACAGGCAGTTAGCAAACGCTATATTCAAGCTCACATACCAAAACAAAGTGGTCAAAGT LeuHisAsnGluGluLysIleThrGlnGlnMetAspProGluHisArgGlnLeuAlaAsnAlaIlePheLysLeuThrTyrGlnAsnLysValValLysVal>                   9310      9320      9330      9340      9350      9360      9370      9380      9390 9400 TCAACGACCAACTCCAAAGGGCACGGTAATGGACATCATATCTAGGAAAGACCAAAGAGGCAGTGGACAGGTGGGAACTTATGGTCTGAATACATTCACC GlnArgProThrProLysGlyThrValMetAspIleIleSerArgLysAspGlnArgGlySerGlyGlnValGlyThrTyrGlyLeuAsnThrPheThr>                   9410      9420      9430      9440      9450      9460      9470      9480      9490 9500 AACATGGAAGCCCAGTTAATCAGACAAATGGAAGGAGAAGGTGTGTTGTCGAAGGCAGACCTCGAGAACCCTCATCTGCTAGAGAAGAAAGTTACACAAT AsnMetGluAlaGlnLeuIleArgGlnMetGluGlyGluGlyValLeuSerLysAlaAspLeuGluAsnProHisLeuLeuGluLysLysValThrGln>                   9510      9520      9530      9540      9550      9560      9570      9580      9590 9600 GGTTGGAAACAAAAGGAGTGGAGAGGTTAAAAAGAATGGCCATCAGCGGGGATGATTGCGTGGTGAAACCAATTGATGACAGGTTCGCCAATGCCCTGCT TrpLeuGluThrLysGlyValGluArgLeuLysArgMetAlaIleSerGlyAspAspCysValValLysProIleAspAspArgPheAlaAsnAlaLeuLeu>                   9610      9620      9630      9640      9650      9660      9670      9680      9690 9700 TGCCCTGAATGACATGGGAAAAGTTAGGAAGGACATACCTCAATGGCAGCCATCAAAGGGATGGCATGATTGGCAACAGGTCCCTTTCTGCTCCCACCAC AlaLeuAsnAspMetGlyLysValArgLysAspIleProGlnTrpGlnProSerLysGlyTrpHisAspTrpGlnGlnValProPheCysSerHisHis>                   9710      9720      9730      9740      9750      9760      9770      9780      9790 9800 TTTCATGAATTGATCATGAAAGATGGAAGAAAGTTGGTAGTTCCCTGCAGACCTCAGGATGAATTAATCGGGAGAGCGAGAATCTCTCAAGGAGCAGGAT PheHisGluLeuIleMetLysAspGlyArgLysLeuValValProCysArgProGlnAspGluLeuIleGlyArgAlaArgIleSerGlnGlyAlaGly>                   9810      9820      9830      9840      9850      9860      9870      9880      9890 9900 GGAGCCTTAGAGAAACTGCATGCCTAGGGAAAGCCTACGCCCAAATGTGGACTCTCATGTACTTTCACAGAAGAGATCTTAGACTAGCATCCAACGCCAT TrpSerLeuArgGluThrAlaCysLeuGlyLysAlaTyrAlaGlnMetTrpThrLeuMetTyrPheHisArgArgAspLeuArgLeuAlaSerAsnAlaIle>                   9910      9920      9930      9940      9950      9960      9970      9980      9990 10000 ATGTTCAGCAGTACCAGTCCATTGGGTCCCCACAAGCAGAACGACGTGGTCTATTCATGCTCACCATCAGTGGATGACTACAGAAGACATGCTTACTGTT CysSerAlaValProValHisTrpValProThrSerArgThrThrTrpSerIleHisAlaHisHisGlnTrpMetThrThrGluAspMetLeuThrVal>                  10010     10020     10030     10040     10050     10060     10070     10080     10090 10100 TGGAACAGGGTGTGGATAGAGGATAATCCATGGATGGAAGACAAAACTCCAGTCAAAACCTGGGAAGATGTTCCATATCTAGGGAAGAGAGAAGACCAAT TrpAsnArgValTrpIleGluAspAsnProTrpMetGluAspLysThrProValLysThrTrpGluAspValProTyrLeuGlyLysArgGluAspGln>                  10110     10120     10130     10140     10150     10160     10170     10180     10190 10200 GGTGCGGATCACTCATTGGTCTCACTTCCAGAGCAACCTGGGCCCAGAACATACTTACGGCAATCCAACAGGTGAGAAGCCTTATAGGCAATGAAGAGTT TrpCysGlySerLeuIleGlyLeuThrSerArgAlaThrTrpAlaGlnAsnIleLeuThrAlaIleGlnGlnValArgSerLeuIleGlyAsnGluGluPhe>                  10210     10220     10230     10240     10250     10260     10270     10280     10290 10300 TCTGGACTACATGCCTTCGATGAAGAGATTCAGGAAGGAGGAGGAGTCAGAGGGAGCCATTTGGTAAACGTAGGAAGTGAAAAAGAGGCAAACTGTCAGG              LeuAspTyrMetProSerMetLysArgPheArgLysGluGluGluSerGluGlyAlaIleTrp***>                  10310     10320     10330     10340     10350     10360     10370     10380     10390 10400 CCACCTTAAGCCACAGTACGGAAGAAGCTGTGCAGCCTGTGAGCCCCGTCCAAGGACGTTAAAAGAAGAAGTCAGGCCCAAAAGCCACGGTTTGAGCAAA                  10410     10420     10430     10440     10450     10460     10470     10480     10490 10500 CCGTGCTGCCTGTGGCTCCGTCGTGGGGACGTAAAACCTGGGAGGCTGCAAACTGTGGAAGCTGTACGCACGGTGTAGCAGACTAGCGGTTAGAGGAGAC                  10510     10520     10530     10540     10550     10560     10570     10580     10590 10600 CCCTCCCATGACACAACGCAGCAGCGGGGCCCGAGCTCTGAGGGAAGCTGTACCTCCTTGCAAAGGACTAGAGGTTAGAGGAGACCCCCCGCAAATAAAA                  10610     10620     10630     10640     10650     10660     10670     10680     10690 10700 ACAGCATATTGACGCTGGGAGAGACCAGAGATCCTGCTGTCTCCTCAGCATCATTCCAGGCACAGAACGCCAGAAAATGGAATGGTGCTGTTGAATCAAC                  10710     10720     10730     10740     10750     10760     10770     10780     10790 10800 AGGTTCTGGTACCGGTAGGCATCGTGGTGTCACGCTCGTCGTTTGGTATGGCTTCATTCAGCTCCGGTTCCCAACGATCAAGGCGAGTTACATGATCCCC                  10810     10820     10830     10840     10850     10860     10870     10880     10890 10900 CATGTTGTGCAAAAAAGCGGTTAGCTCCTTCGGTCCTCCGATCGTTGTCAGAAGTAAGTTGGCCGCAGTGTTATCACTCATGGTTATGGCAGCACTGCAT                  10910     10920     10930     10940     10950     10960     10970     10980     10990 11000 AATTCTCTTACTGTCATGCCATCCGTAAGATGCTTTTCTGTGACTGGTGAGTACTCAACCAAGTCATTCTGAGAATAGTGTATGCGGCGACCGAGTTGCT                  11010     11020     11030     11040     11050     11060     11070     11080     11090 11100 CTTGCCCGGCGTCAACACGGGATAATACCGCGCCACATAGCAGAACTTTAAAAGTGCTCATCATTGGAAAACGTTCTTCGGGGCGAAAACTCTCAAGGAT                  11110     11120     11130     11140     11150     11160     11170     11180     11190 11200 CTTACCGCTGTTGAGATCCAGTTCGATGTAACCCACTCGTGCACCCAACTGATCTTCAGCATCTTTTACTTTCACCAGCGTTTCTGGGTGAGCAAAAACA                  11210     11220     11230     11240     11250     11260     11270     11280     11290 11300 GGAAGGCAAAATGCCGCAAAAAAGGGAATAAGGGCGACACGGAAATGTTGAATACTCATACTCTTCCTTTTTCAATATTATTGAAGCATTTATCAGGGTT                  11310     11320     11330     11340     11350     11360     11370     11380     11390 11400 ATTGTCTCATGAGCGGATACATATTTGAATGTATTTAGAAAAATAAACAAATAGGGGTTCCGCGCACATTTCCCCGAAAAGTGCCACCTGACGTCTAAGA                  11410     11420     11430     11440     11450     11460     11470     11480     11490 11500 AACCATTATTATCATGACATTAACCTATAAAAATAGGCGTATCACGAGGCCCTTTCGTCTTCAAGAATTCTCATGTTTGACAGCTTATCATCGATAAGCT                  11510     11520     11530     11540     11550     11560     11570     11580     11590 11600 TTAATGCGGTAGTTTATCACAGTTAAATTGCTAACGCAGTCAGGCACCGTGTATGAAATCTAACAATGCGCTCATCGTCATCCTCGGCACCGTCACCCTG                  11610     11620     11630     11640     11650     11660     11670     11680     11690 11700 GATGCTGTAGGCATAGGCTTGGTTATGCCGGTACTGCCGGGCCTCTTGCGGGATATCGTCCATTCCGACAGCATCGCCAGTCACTATGGCGTGCTGCTGG                  11710     11720     11730     11740     11750     11760     11770     11780     11790 11800 CGCTATATGCGTTGATGCAATTTCTATGCGCACCCGTTCTCGGAGCACTGTCCGACCGCTTTGGCCGCCGCCCAGTCCTGCTCGCTTCGCTACTTGGAGC                  11810     11820     11830     11840     11850     11860     11870     11880     11890 11900 CACTATCGACTACGCGATCATGGCGACCACACCCGTCCTGTGGATCCTCTACGCCGGACGCATCGTGGCCGGCATCACCGGCGCCACAGGTGCGGTTGCT                  11910     11920     11930     11940     11950     11960     11970     11980     11990 12000 GGCGCCTATATCGCCGACATCACCGATGGGGAAGATCGGGCTCGCCACTTCGGGCTCATGAGCGCTTGTTTCGGCGTGGGTATGGTGGCAGGCCCCGTGG                  12010     12020     12030     12040     12050     12060     12070     12080     12090 12100 CCGGGGGACTGTTGGGCGCCATCTCCTTGCATGCACCATTCCTTGCGGCGGCGGTGCTCAACGGCCTCAACCTACTACTGGGCTGCTTCCTAATGCAGGA                  12110     12120     12130     12140     12150     12160     12170     12180     12190 12200 GTCGCATAAGGGAGAGCGTCGACCGATGCCCTTGAGAGCCTTCAACCCAGTCAGCTCCTTCCGGTGGGCGCGGGGCATGACTATCGTCGCCGCACTTATG                  12210     12220     12230     12240     12250     12260     12270     12280     12290 12300 ACTGTCTTCTTTATCATGCAACTCGTAGGACAGGTGCCGGCAGCGCTCTGGGTCATTTTCGGCGAGGACCGCTTTCGCTGGAGCGCGACGATGATCGGCC                  12310     12320     12330     12340     12350     12360     12370     12380     12390 12400 TGTCGCTTGCGGTATTCGGAATCTTGCACGCCCTCGCTCAAGCCTTCGTCACTGGTCCCGCCACCAAACGTTTCGGCGAGAAGCAGGCCATTATCGCCGG                  12410     12420     12430     12440     12450     12460     12470     12480     12490 12500 CATGGCGGCCGACGCGCTGGGCTACGTCTTGCTGGCGTTCGCGACGCGAGGCTGGATGGCCTTCCCCATTATGATTCTTCTCGCTTCCGGCGGCATCGGG                  12510     12520     12530     12540     12550     12560     12570     12580     12590 12600 ATGCCCGCGTTGCAGGCCATGCTGTCCAGGCAGGTAGATGACGACCATCAGGGACAGCTTCAAGGATCGCTCGCGGCTCTTACCAGCCTAACTTCGATCA                  12610     12620     12630     12640     12650     12660     12670     12680     12690 12700 CTGGACCGCTGATCGTCACGGCGATTTATGCCGCCTCGGCGAGCACATGGAACGGGTTGGCATGGATTGTAGGCGCCGCCCTATACCTTGTCTGCCTCCC                  12710     12720     12730     12740     12750     12760     12770     12780     12790 12800 CGCGTTGCGTCGCGGTGCATGGAGCCGGGCCACCTCGACCTGAATGGAAGCCGGCGGCACCTCGCTAACGGATTCACCACTCCAAGAATTGGAGCCAATC                  12810     12820     12830     12840     12850     12860     12870     12880     12890 12900 AATTCTTGCGGAGAACTGTGAATGCGCAAACCAACCCTTGGCAGAACATATCCATCGCGTCCGCCATCTCCAGCAGCCGCACGCGGCGCATCTCGGGCAG                  12910     12920     12930     12940     12950     12960     12970     12980     12990 13000 CGTTGGGTCCTGGCCACGGGTGCGCATGATCGTGCTCCTGTCGTTGAGGACCCGGCTAGGCTGGCGGGGTTGCCTTACTGGTTAGCAGAATGAATCACCG                  13010     13020     13030     13040     13050     13060     13070     13080     13090 13100 ATACGCGAGCGAACGTGAAGCGACTGCTGCTGCAAAACGTCTGCGACCTGAGCAACAACATGAATGGTCTTCGGTTTCCGTGTTTCGTAAAGTCTGGAAA                  13110     13120     13130     13140     13150     13160     13170     13180     13190 13200 CGCGGAAGTCAGCGCCCTGCACCATTATGTTCCGGATCTGCATCGCAGGATGCTGCTGGCTACCCTGTGGAACACCTACATCTGTATTAACGAAGCGCTG                  13210     13220     13230     13240     13250     13260     13270     13280     13290 13300 GCATTGACCCTGAGTGATTTTTCTCTGGTCCCGCCGCATCCATACCGCCAGTIGTTTACCCTCACAACGTTCCAGTAACCGGGCATGTTCATCATCAGTA                  13310     13320     13330     13340     13350     13360     13370     13380     13390 13400 ACCCGTATCGTGAGCATCCTCTCTCGTTTCATCGGTATCATTACCCCCATGAACAGAAATCCCCCTTACACGGAGGCATCAGTGACCAAACAGGAAAAAA                  13410     13420     13430     13440     13450     13460     13470     13480     13490 13500 CCGCCCTTAACATGGCCCGCTTTATCAGAAGCCAGACATTAACGCTTCTGGAGAAACTCAACGAGCTGGACGCGGATGAACAGGCAGACATCTGTGAATC                  13510     13520     13530     13540     13550     13560     13570     13580     13590 13600 GCTTCACGACCACGCTGATGAGCTTTACCGCAGCTGCCTCGCGCGTTTCGGTGATGACGGTGAAAACCTCTGACACATGCAGCTCCCGGAGACGGTCACA                  13610     13620     13630     13640     13650     13660     13670     13680     13690 13700 GCTTGTCTGTAAGCGGATGCCGGGAGCAGACAAGCCCGTCAGGGCGCGTCAGCGGGTGTTGGCGGGTGTCGGGGCGCAGCCATGACCCAGTCACGTAGCG                  13710     13720     13730     13740     13750     13760     13770     13780     13790 13800 ATAGCGGAGTGTATACTGGCTTAACTATGCGGCATCAGAGCAGATTGTACTGAGAGTGCACCATATGCGGTGTGAAATACCGCACAGATGCGTAAGGAGA                  13810     13820     13830     13840     13850     13860     13870     13880     13890 13900 AAATACCGCATCAGGCGCTCTTCCGCTTCCTCGCTCACTGACTCGCTGCGCTCGGTCGTTCGGCTGCGGCGAGCGGTATCAGCTCACTCAAAGGCGGTAA                  13910     13920     13930     13940     13950     13960     13970     13980     13990 14000 TACGGTTATCCACAGAATCAGGGGATAACGCAGGAAAG.AACATGTGAGCAAAAGGCCAGCAAAAGGCCAGGAACCGTAAAAAGGCCGCGTTGCTGGCGTT                  14010     14020     14030     14040     14050     14060     14070     14080     14090 14100 TTTCCATAGGCTCCGCCCCCCTGACGAGCATCACAAAAATCGACGCTCAAGTCAGAGGTGGCGAAACCCGACAGGACTATAAAGATACCAGGCGTTTCCC                  14110     14120     14130     14140     14150     14160     14170     14180     14190 14200 CCTGGAAGCTCCCTCGTGCGCTCTCCTGTTCCGACCCTGCCGCTTACCGGATACCTGTCCGCCTTTCTCCCTTCGGGAAGCGTGGCGCTTTCTCATAGCT                  14210     14220     14230     14240     14250     14260     14270     14280     14290 14300 CACGCTGTAGGTATCTCAGTTCGGTGTAGGTCGTTCGCTCCAAGCTGGGCTGTGTGCACGAACCCCCCGTTCAGCCCGACCGCTGCGCCTTATCCGGTAA                  14310     14320     14330     14340     14350     14360     14370     14380     14390 14400 CTATCGTCTTGAGTCCAACCCGGTAAGACACGACTTATCGCCACTGGCAGCAGCCACTGGTAACAGGATTAGCAGAGCGAGGTATGTAGGCGGTGCTACA                  14410     14420     14430     14440     14450     14460     14470     14480     14490 14500 GAGTTCTTGAAGTGGTGGCCTAACTACGGCTACACTAGAAGGACAGTATTTGGTATCTGCGCTCTGCTGAAGCCAGTTACCTTCGGAAAAAGAGTTGGTA                  14510     14520     14530     14540     14550     14560     14570     14580     14590 14600 GCTCTTGATCCGGCAAACAAACCACCGCTGGTAGCGGTGGTTTTTTTGTTTGCAAGCAGCAGATTACGCGCAGAAAAAAAGGATCTCAAGAAGATCCTTT                  14610     14620     14630     14640     14650     14660     14670     14680     14690 14700 GATCTTTTCTACGGGGTCTGACGCTCAGTGGAACGAAAACTCACGTTAAGGGATTTTGGTCATGAGATTATCAAAAAGGATCTTCACCTAGATCCTTTTA                  14710     14720     14730     14740     14750     14760     14770     14780     14790 14800 AATTAAAAATGAAGTTTTAAATCAATCTAAAGTATATATGAGTAAACTTGGTCTGACAGTTACCAATGCTTAATCAGTGAGGCACCTATCTCAGCGATCT                  14810     14820     14830     14840     14850     14860     14870     14880     14890 14900 GTCTATTTCGTTCATCCATAGTTGCCTGACTCCCCGTCGTGTAGATAACTACGATACGGGAGGGCTTACCATCTGGCCCAGTGCTGCAATGATACCGCG                  14910     14920     14930     14940     14950     14960     14970     14980     14990 15000 AGACCCACGCTCACCGGCTCCAGATTTATCAGCAATAAACCAGCCAGCCGGAAGGGCCGAGCGCAGAAGTGGTCCTGCAACTTTATCCGCCTCCATCCAG                  15010     15020     15030     15040     15050     15060     15070     15080     15090 15100 TCTATTAATTGTTGCCGGGAAGCTAGAGTAAGTAGTTCGCCAGTTAATAGTTTGCGCAACGTTGTTGCCATTGCTGCAAGATCTGGCTAGCGATGACCCT                  15110     15120     15130     15140     15150             GCTGATTGGTTCGCTGACCATTTCCGGGCGCGCCGATTTAGGTGACACTATAG

APPENDIX 3 Nucleotide and amino acid sequence of DEN1 (Puerto Rico/94) CME chimeric region  (DNA: SEQ ID NO: 50; Protein: SEQ ID NO: 51)  Bases 1 to 88 (BGlII): DEN4  Bases 89 (BglII) to 2348 (XhoI): DEN1  Bases 2349 (XhoI) to 2426: DEN4  Bases 102 to 443: C protein ORF  Bases 444 to 941: prM protein ORF  Bases 942 to 2426: E protein ORF                      10        20        30        40        50        60        70        80        90 100 AGTTGTTAGTCTGTGTGGACCGACAAGGACAGTTCCAAATCGGAAGCTTGCTTAACACAGTTCTAACAGTTTGTTTGAATAGAGAGCAGATCTCTGGAAA                    110       120       130       140       150       160       170       180       190 200 AATGAACAACCAACGGAAAAAGACGGGTCGACCGTCTTTCAATATGCTGAAACGCGCGAGAAACCGCGTGTCAACTGGTTCACAGTTGGCGAAGAGATTC MetAsnAsnGlnArgLysLysThrGlyArgProSerPheAsnMetLeuLysArgAlaArgAsnArgValSerThrGlySerGlnLeuAlaLysArgPhe>                    210       220       230       240       250       260       270       280       290 300 TCAAAAGGATTGCTTTCAGGCCAAGGACCCATGAAATTGGTGATGGCTTTCATAGCATTTCTAAGATTTCTAGCCATACCCCCAACAGCAGGAATTTTGG SerLysGlyLeuLeuSerGlyGlnGlyProMetLysLeuValMetAlaPheIleAlaPheLeuArgPheLeuAlaIleProProThrAlaGlyIleLeu>                    310       320       330       340       350       360       370       380       390 400 CTAGATGGAGCTCATTCAAGAAGAATGGAGCGATCAAAGTGTTACGGGGTTTCAAAAAAGAGATCTCAAGCATGTTGAACATTATGAACAGGAGGAAAAA AlaArgTrpSerSerneLysLysAsnGlyAlaIleLysValLeuArgGlyPheLysLysGluIleSerSerMetLeuAsnIleMetAsnArgArgLysLys>                    410       420       430       440       450       460       470       480       490 500 ATCTGTGACCATGCTCCTCATGCTGCTGCCCACAGCCCTGGCGTTCCATTTGACCACACGAGGGGGAGAGCCACACATGATAGTTAGTAAGCAGGAAAGA SerValThrMetLeuLeuMetLeuLeuProThrAlaLeuAlaPheHisLeuThrThrArgGlyGlyGluProHisMetIleValSerLysGlnGluArg>                    510       520       530       540       550       560       570       580       590 600 GGAAAGTCACTGTTGTTTAAGACCTCTGCAGGCATCAATATGTGCACTCTCATTGCGATGGATTTGGGAGAGTTATGCGAGGACACAATGACCTACAAAT GlyLysSerLeuLeuPheLysThrSerAlaGlyIleAsnMetCysThrLeuIleAlaMetAspLeuGlyGluLeuCysGluAspThrMetThrTyrLys>                    610       620       630       640       650       660       670       680       690 700 GCCCCCGGATCACTGAGGCGGAACCAGATGACGTTGACTGCTGGTGCAATGCCACAGACACATGGGTGACCTATGGGACGTGTTCTCAAACCGGCGAACA CysProArgIleThrGLuAlaGluProAspAspValAspCysTrpCysAsnAlaThrAspThrTrpValThrTyrGLyThrCysSerGlnThrGLyGLuHis>                    710       720       730       740       750       760       770       780       790 800 CCGACGAGACAAACGTTCCGTGGCACTGGCCCCACACGTGGGACTTGGTCTAGAAACAAGAACCGAAACATGGATGTCCTCTGAAGGTGCCTGGAAACAA ArgArgAspLysArgSerValAlaLeuAlaProHisValGlyLeuGlyLeuGluThrArgThrGluThrTrpMetSerSerGluGlyAlaTrpLysGln>                    810       820       830       840       850       860       870       880       890 900 GTACAAAAAGTGGAGACTTGGGCTTTGAGACACCCAGGATTCACGGTGACAGCCCTTTTTTTAGCACATGCCATAGGAACATCCATTACTCAGAAAGGGA ValGlnLysValGluThrTrpAlaLeuArgHisProGlyPheThrValThrAlaLeulpheLeuAlaHisAlaIleGlyThrSerIleThrGlnLysGly>                    910       920       930       940       950       960       970       980       990 1000 TCATTTTCATTCTGCTGATGCTAGTAACACCATCAATGGCCATGCGATGTGTGGGAATAGGCAACAGAGACTTCGTTGAAGGACTGTCAGGAGCAACGTG IleIlePheIleLeuLeuMetLeuValThrProSerMetAlaMetArgCysValGlyIleGlyAsnArgAspPheValGluGlyLeuSerGlyAlaThrTrp>                   1010      1020      1030      1040      1050      1060      1070      1080      1090 1100 GGTGGACGTGGTATTGGAGCATGGAAGCTGCGTCACCACCATGGCAAAAGATAAACCAACATTGGACATTGAACTCTTGAAGACGGAGGTCACAAACCCT ValAspValValLeuGluHisGlySerCysValThrThrMetAlaLysAspLysProThrLeuAspIleGluLeuLeuLysThrGluValThrAsnPro>                   1110      1120      1130      1140      1150      1160      1170      1180      1190 1200 GCCGTCTTGCGCAAACTGTGCATTGAAGCTAAAATATCAAACACCACCACCGATTCAAGGTGTCCAACACAAGGAGAGGCTACACTGGTGGAAGAACAGG AlaValLeuArgLysLeuCysIleGluAlaLysneSerAsnThrThrThrAspSerArgCysProThrGlnGlyGluAlaThrLeuValGLuGluGln>                   1210      1220      1230      1240      1250      1260      1270      1280      1290 1300 ACTCGAACTTTGTGTGTCGACGAACGTTTGTGGACAGAGGCTGGGGTAATGGCTGCGGACTATTTGGAAAAGGAAGCCTACTGACGTGTGCTAAGTTCAA AspSerAsnPheValCysArgArgThrPheValAspArgGlyTrpGlyAsnGlyCysGlyLeuPheGlyLysGlySerLeuLeuThrCysAlaLysPheLys>                   1310      1320      1330      1340      1350      1360      1370      1380      1390 1400 GTGTGTGACAAAACTAGAAGGAAAGATAGTTCAATATGAAAACTTAAAATATTCAGTGATAGTCACTGTCCACACTGGGGACCAGCACCAGGTGGGAAAC CysValThrLysLeuGluGlyLysI1eValGLnTyrGluAsnLeuLysTyrSerValIleValThrValHisThrGLyAspGLnHisGLnValGlyAsn>                   1410      1420      1430      1440      1450      1460      1470      1480      1490 1500 GAGACTACAGAACATGGAACAATTGCAACCATAACACCTCAAGCTCCTACGTCGGAAATACAGCTGACTGACTACGGAGCCCTCACATTGGACTGCTCGC GluThrThrGluHisGlyThrIleAlaThrIleThrProGlnAlaProThrSerGluIleGlnLeuThrAspTyrGlyAlaLeuThrLeuAspCysSer>                   1510      1520      1530      1540      1550      1560      1570      1580      1590 1600 CTAGAACAGGGCTGGACTTTAATGAGATGGTTCTATTGACAATGAAAGAAAAATCATGGCTTGTCCACAAACAATGGTTTCTAGACTTACCACTGCCTTG ProArgThrGlyLeuAspPheAsnGluMetValLeuLeuThrMetLysGluLysSerTrpLeuValHisLysGLnTrpPheLeuAspLeuProLeuProTrp>                   1610      1620      1630      1640      1650      1660      1670      1680      1690 1700 GACTTCAGGAGCTTCAACATCTCAAGAGACTTGGAACAGACAAGATTTGCTGGTCACATTCAAGACAGCTCATGCAAAGAAACAGGAAGTAGTCGTACTG ThrSerGlyAlaSerThrSerGlnGLuThrTrpAsnArgGlnAspLeuLeuValThrPheLysThrAlaHisAlaLysLysGlnGluValValValLeu>                   1710      1720      1730      1740      1750      1760      1770      1780      1790 1800 GGATCACAGGAAGGAGCAATGCACACTGCGTTGACTGGGGCGACAGAAATCCAGACGTCAGGAACGACAACAATCTTTGCAGGACACCTGAAATGCAGAC GlySerGLGluGlyAlaMetHisThrAlaLeuThrGlyAlaThrGluIleGlnThrSerGlyThrThrThrIlePheAlaGlyHisLeuLysCysArg>                   1810      1820      1830      1840      1850      1860      1870      1880      1890 1900 TAAAAATGGATAAACTGACTTTAAAAGGGATGTCATATGTAATGTGCACAGGCTCATTTAAGCTAGAGAAGGAAGTGGCTGAGACCCAGCATGGAACTGT LeuLysMetAspLysLeuThrLeuLysGLyMetSerTyrValMetCysThrGlySerPheLysLeuGluLysGLuValAlaGLuThrGLnHisGLyThrVal>                   1910      1920      1930      1940      1950      1960      1970      1980      1990 2000 TTTAGTGCAGGTTAAATACGAAGGAACAGATGCGCCATGCAAGATCCCTTTTTCGGCCCAAGATGAGAAAGGAGTGACCCAGAATGGGAGATTGATAACA LeuValGLnValLysTyrGLuGLyThrAspAlaProCysLysI1eProPheSerAlaGLnAspGLuLysGlyValThrGLnAsnGLyArgLeuIleThr>                   2010      2020      2030      2040      2050      2060      2070      2080      2090 2100 GCCAACCCCATAGTCACTGACAAAGAAAAACCAGTCAACATTGAGACAGAACCACCTTTTGGTGAGAGCTACATCGTGGTAGGGGCAGGTGAAAAAGCTT AlaAsnProIleValThrAspLysGluLysProValAsnIleGluThrGluProProPheGlyGluSerTyrIleValValGlyAlaGlyGluLysAla>                    2110      2120      2130      2140      2150      2160      2170      2180      2190 2200 TGAAACTGAGCTGGTTCAAGAAAGGGAGCAGCATAGGGAAAATGTTCGAAGCAACTGCCCGAGGAGCGCGAAGGATGGCTATCCTGGGAGACACCGCATG LeuLysLeuSerTrpPheLysLysGlySerSerIleGlyLysMetPheGluAlaThrAlaArgGlyAlaArgArgMetAlaIleLeuGLyAspThrAlaTrp>                   2210      2220      2230      2240      2250      2260      2270      2280      2290 2300 GGACTTTGGCTCTATAGGAGGAGTGTTCACATCAGTGGGAAAATTGGTACACCAGGTTTTTGGAGCCGCATATGGGGTTCTGTTCAGCGGTGTTTCTTGG AspPheGlySerIleGlyGlyValPheThrSerValGlyLysLeuValHisGlnValPheGlyAlaAlaTyrGlyValLeuPheSerGlyValSerTrp>                   2310      2320      2330      2340      2350      2360      2370      2380      2390 2400 ACCATGAAAATAGGAATAGGGATTCTGCTGACATGGCTAGGATTAAACTCGAGGAACACTTCAATGGCTATGACGTGCATAGCTGTTGGAGGAATCACTC ThrMetLysIleGlyIleGlyneLeuLeuThrTrpLeuGlyLeuAsnSerArgAsnThrSerMetAlaMetThrCysIleAlaValGLyGlyIleThr>                   2410      2420               TGTTTCTGGGCTTCACAGTTCAAGCA              LeuPheLeuGlyPheThrValGlnAla>

APPENDIX 4 Nucleotide and amino acid sequence of DEN1 (Puerto Rico/94) ME chimeric region  (DNA: SEQ ID NO: 52; Protein : SEQ ID NO: 53)  Bases 1 to 404 (PstI): DEN4  Bases 405 (PstI) to 2345 (Xhol): DEN1  Bases 2346 (XhoI) to 2423: DEN4  Bases 102 to 440: C protein ORF  Bases 441 to 938: prM protein ORF  Bases 939 to 2423: E protein ORF                       10        20        30        40        50        60        70        80        90  100  AGTTGTTAGTCTGTGTGGACCGACAAGGACAGTTCCAAATCGGAAGCTTGCTTAACACAGTTCTAACAGTTTGTTTGAATAGAGAGCAGATCTCTGGAAA                      110       120       130       140       150       160       170       180       190 200 AATGAACCAACGAAAAAAGGTGGTTAGACCACCTTTCAATATGCTGAAACGCGAGAGAAACCGCGTATCAACCCCTCAAGGGTTGGTGAAGAGATTCTCA  MetAsnGlnArgLysLysValValArgProProPheAsnMetLeuLysArgGluArgAsnArgValSerThrProGlnGlyLeuValLysArgPheSer>                     210       220       230       240       250       260       270       280       290 300 ACCGGACTTTTTTCTGGGAAAGGACCCTTACGGATGGTGCTAGCATTCATCACGTTTTTGCGAGTCCTTTCCATCCCACCAACAGCAGGGATTCTGAAGA  ThrGlyLeuPheSerGlyLysGlyProLeuArgMetValLeuAlaPheIleThrPheLeuArgValLeuSerIleProProThrAlaGlyIleLeuLys>                     310       320       330       340       350       360       370       380       390 400 GATGGGGACAGTTGAAGAAAAATAAGGCCATCAAGATACTGATTGGATTCAGGAAGGAGATAGGCCGCATGCTGAACATCTTGAACGGGAGAAA.AAGGTC  ArgTrpGlyGlnLeuLysLysAsnLysAlaIleLysIleLeuIleGlyPheArgLysGluIleGlyArgMetLeuAsnIleLeuAsnGlyArgLysArgSer>                     410       420       430       440       450       460       470       480       490 500 TGCAGCCATGCTCCTCATGCTGCTGCCCACAGCCCTGGCGTTCCATTTGACCACACGAGGGGGAGAGCCACACATGATAGTTAGTAAGCAGGAAAGAGGA  AlaAlaMetLeuLeuMetLeuLeuProThrAlaLeuAlaPheHisLeuThrThrArgGlyGlyGluProHisMetIleValSerLysGlnGluArgGly>                     510       520       530       540       550       560       570       580       590 600 AAGTCACTGTTGTTTAAGACCTCTGCAGGCATCAATATGTGCACTCTCATTGCGATGGATTTGGGAGAGTTATGCGAGGACACAATGACCTACAAATGCC  LysSerLeuLeuPheLysThrSerAlaGlyI1eAsnMetCysThrLeuIleAlaMetAspLeuGlyGluLeuCysGluAspThrMetThrTyrLysCys>                     610       620       630       640       650       660       670       680       690 700 CCCGGATCACTGAGGCGGAACCAGATGACGTTGACTGCTGGTGCAATGCCACAGACACATGGGTGACCTATGGGACGTGTTCTCAAACCGGCGAACACCG  ProArgIleThrGluAlaGluProAspAspValAspCysTrpCysAsnAlaThrAspThrTrpValThrTyrGlyThrCysSerGLnThrGlyGluHisArg>                     710       720       730       740       750       760       770       780       790 800 ACGAGACAAACGTTCCGTGGCACTGGCCCCACACGTGGGACTTGGTCTAGAAACAAGAACCGAAACATGGATGTCCTCTGAAGGTGCCTGGAAACAAGTA  ArgAspLysArgSerValAlaLeuAlaProHisValGlyLeuGlyLeuGluThrArgThrGluThrTrpMetSerSerGluGlyAlaTrpLysGLnVal>                     810       820       830       840       850       860       870       880       890 900 CAAAAAGTGGAGACTTGGGCTTTGAGACACCCAGGATTCACGGTGACAGCCCTTTTTTTAGCACATGCCATAGGAACATCCATTACTCAGAAAGGGATCA  GlnLysValGluThrTrpAlaLeuArgHisProGlyPheThrValThrAlaLeurtheLeuAlaHisAlaIleGlyThrSerneThrGlnLysGlyne>                     910       920       930       940       950       960       970       980       990 1000  TTTTCATTCTGCTGATGCTAGTAACACCATCAATGGCCATGCGATGTGTGGGAATAGGCAACAGAGACTTCGTTGAAGGACTGTCAGGAGCAACGTGGGT  IlePheneLeuLeuMetLeuValThrProSerMetAlaMetArgCysValGlyIleGlyAsnArgAspPheValGluGlyLeuSerGlyAlaThrTrpVal>                    1010      1020      1030      1040      1050      1060      1070      1080      1090 1100 GGACGTGGTATTGGAGCATGGAAGCTGCGTCACCACCATGGCAAAAGATAAACCAACATTGGACATTGAACTCTTGAAGACGGAGGTCACAAACCCTGCC  AspValValLeuGluHisGlySerCysValThrThrMetAlaLysAspLysProThrLeuAspIleGluLeuLeuLysThrGluValThrAsnProAla>                    1110      1120      1130      1140      1150      1160      1170      1180      1190 1200 GTCTTGCGCAAACTGTGCATTGAAGCTAAAATATCAAACACCACCACCGATTCAAGGTGTCCAACACAAGGAGAGGCTACACTGGTGGAAGAACAGGACT  ValLeuArgLysLeuCysneGluAlaLysIleSerAsnThrThrThrAspSerArgCysProThrGlnGlyGluAlaThrLeuValGluGluGlnAsp>                    1210      1220      1230      1240      1250      1260      1270      1280      1290 1300 CGAACTTTGTGTGTCGACGAACGTTTGTGGACAGAGGCTGGGGTAATGGCTGCGGACTATTTGGAAAAGGAAGCCTACTGACGTGTGCTAAGTTCAAGTG  SerAsnPheValCysArgArgThrneValAspArgGlyTrpGlyAsnGlyCysGlyLeuneGlyLysGlySerLeuLeuThrCysAlaLysneLysCys>                    1310      1320      1330      1340      1350      1360      1370      1380      1390 1400 TGTGACAAAACTAGAAGGAAAGATAGTTCAATATGAAAACTTAAAATATTCAGTGATAGTCACTGTCCACACTGGGGACCAGCACCAGGTGGGAAACGAG  ValThrLysLeuGluGlyLysIleValGLnTyrGluAsnLeuLysTyrSerValIleValThrValHisThrGlyAspGLnHisGLnValGlyAsnGlu>                    1410      1420      1430      1440      1450      1460      1470      1480      1490 1500 ACTACAGAACATGGAACAATTGCAACCATAACACCTCAAGCTCCTACGTCGGAAATACAGCTGACTGACTACGGAGCCCTCACATTGGACTGCTCGCCTA  ThrThrGluHisGlyThrIleAlaThrIleThrProGlnAlaProThrSerGluIleGlnLeuThrAspTyrGlyAlaLeuThrLeuAspCysSerPro>                    1510      1520      1530      1540      1550      1560      1570      1580      1590 1600 GAACAGGGCTGGACTTTAATGAGATGGTTCTATTGACAATGAAAGAAAAATCATGGCTTGTCCACAAACAATGGTTTCTAGACTTACCACTGCCTTGGAC  ArgThrGlyLeuAspPheAsnGluMetValLeuLeuThrMetLysGluLysSerTrpLeuValHisLysGLnTrpPheLeuAspLeuProLeuProTrpThr>                    1610      1620      1630      1640      1650      1660      1670      1680      1690 1700 TTCAGGAGCTTCAACATCTCAAGAGACTTGGAACAGACAAGATTTGCTGGTCACATTCAAGACAGCTCATGCAAAGAAACAGGAAGTAGTCGTACTGGGA  SerGlyAlaSerThrSerGlnGluThrTrpAsnArgGlnAspLeuLeuValThrPheLysThrAlaHisAlaLysLysGlnGluValValValLeuGly>                    1710      1720      1730      1740      1750      1760      1770      1780      1790 1800 TCACAGGAAGGAGCAATGCACACTGCGTTGACTGGGGCGACAGAAATCCAGACGTCAGGAACGACAACAATCTTTGCAGGACACCTGAAATGCAGACTAA  SerGlnGluGlyAlaMetHisThrAlaLeuThrGlyAlaThrGluIleGlnThrSerGlyThrThrThrIlePheAlaGlyHisLeuLysCysArgLeu>                    1810      1820      1830      1840      1850      1860      1870      1880      1890 1900 AAATGGATAAACTGACTTTAAAAGGGATGTCATATGTAATGTGCACAGGCTCATTTAAGCTAGAGAAGGAAGTGGCTGAGACCCAGCATGGAACTGTTTT  LysMetAspLysLeuThrLeuLysGlyMetSerTyrValMetCysThrGlySerPheLysLeuGluLysGluValAlaGluThrGlnHisGlyThrValLeu?                     1910      1920      1930      1940      1950      1960      1970      1980      1990 2000 AGTGCAGGTTAAATACGAAGGAACAGATGCGCCATGCAAGATCCCTTTTTCGGCCCAAGATGAGAAAGGAGTGACCCAGAATGGGAGATTGATAACAGCC  ValGlnValLysTyrGluGlyThrAspAlaProCysLysIleProPheSerAlaGlnAspGluLysGlyValThrGlnAsnGlyArgLeuIleThrAla>                     2010      2020      2030      2040      2050      2060      2070      2080      2090 2100 AACCCCATAGTCACTGACAAAGAAAAACCAGTCAACATTGAGACAGAACCACCTTTTGGTGAGAGCTACATCGTGGTAGGGGCAGGTGAAAAAGCTTTGA  AsnProIleValThrAspLysGluLysProValAsnIleGluThrGluProProPheGlyGluSerTyrIleValValGlyAlaGlyGluLysAlaLeu>                    2110      2120      2130      2140      2150      2160      2170      2180      2190 2200 AACTGAGCTGGTTCAAGAAAGGGAGCAGCATAGGGAAAATGTTCGAAGCAACTGCCCGAGGAGCGCGAAGGATGGCTATCCTGGGAGACACCGCATGGGA  LysLeuSerTrpPheLysLysGLySerSerIleGlyLysMetPheGluAlaThrAlaArgGlyAlaArgArgMetAlaIleLeuGlyAspThrAlaTrpAsp>                    2210      2220      2230      2240      2250      2260      2270      2280      2290 2300 CTTTGGCTCTATAGGAGGAGTGTTCACATCAGTGGGAAAATTGGTACACCAGGTTTTTGGAGCCGCATATGGGGTTCTGTTCAGCGGTGTTTCTTGGACC  PheGlySerIleGlyGlyValPheThrSerValGlyLysLeuValHisGlnValPheGlyAlaAlaTyrGlyValLeuPheSerGlyValSerTrpThr>                    2310      2320      2330      2340      2350      2360      2370      2380      2390 2400  ATGAAAATAGGAATAGGGATTCTGCTGACATGGCTAGGATTAAACTCGAGGAACACTTCAATGGCTATGACGTGCATAGCTGTTGGAGGAATCACTCTGT  MetLysIleGlyIleGlyIleLeuLeuThrTrpLeuGlyLeuAsnSerArgAsnThrSerMetAlaMetThrCysIleAlaValGlyGlyIleThrLeu>                    2410      2420              TTCTGGGCTTCACAGTTCAAGCA             PheLeuGlyPheThrValGlnAla 

While the present invention has been described in some detail for purposes of clarity and understanding, one skilled in the art will appreciate that various changes in form and detail can be made without departing from the true scope of the invention. All figures, tables, appendices, patents, patent applications and publications, referred to above, are hereby incorporated by reference. 

What is claimed is:
 1. A nucleic acid encoding a Dengue 3 virus comprising a deletion of about 30 nucleotides from the 3′ untranslated region of the Dengue 3 genome corresponding to the TL2 stem-loop structure between nucleotides 10535-10565.
 2. The nucleic acid of claim 1, wherein the Dengue 3 virus further comprises a mutation generating a mutant having temperature sensitivity in Vero cells or the human liver cell line HuH-7, host-cell restriction in mosquito cells or the human liver cell line HuH-7, host-cell adaptation for improved replication in Vero cells, or attenuation in mice or monkeys.
 3. A Dengue 3 virus encoded by the nucleic acid of claim
 1. 4. A composition comprising the Dengue 3 virus of claim 3 and a pharmaceutically acceptable carrier. 